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In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, large swaths of the U.S. were under stay-at-home orders, thus preventing many individuals from leaving their homes. While previous studies have shown that such orders can be detrimental to mental health, specific mental health outcomes, such as loneliness and anxiety, have yet to be fully explored, particularly among various living situation contexts (e.g., living alone, with romantic/sexual partners, without romantic/sexual partners). The current study explores this using a mixed-methods approach. Data were collected via Amazon's M-Turk (N = 85). Kruskal-Wallis tests revealed significant differences between the three groups with respect to loneliness. Statistically significant greater levels of loneliness were found in individuals living alone compared to those living with romantic/sexual partners and those living with non-romantic/sexual partners. No significant differences in anxiety levels were detected. Qualitative analysis revealed similar themes among all groups regarding anxiety. When asked about loneliness, however, those living alone shared more about feeling isolated, unwanted feelings of solitude, and how technology only mitigates a portion of these feelings. Those living with others and sexual partners shared desires to see friends and co-workers, yet not to the severity described by individuals living alone. Romantic/sex life themes are also discussed., Author(s): Joseph M. Currin [sup.1] , Amelia E. Evans [sup.2] , Bridget M. Miller [sup.3] , Christopher Owens [sup.4] , Zachary Giano [sup.5] , Randolph D. Hubach [sup.6] Author Affiliations: [...]

There is a paucity of research analyzing sexting behaviors in adults aged 25 and older. The majority of research into sexting focuses on emerging adult populations and adolescents. While sexting has been studied in regard to relational attachment and motivations to sext, little is known about how these constructs are associated with older adults' sexting behaviors and how they relate to the type of sext message sent. To that end, the current study sought to predict the type of sext message (image or text only) sent based on relational attachment and sexting motivations. A significant logistic regression model was found ([chi]2(6) = 51.97, p < .001), with relational anxiety and body image reinforcement being significant predictors of adults sending a partially and/or nude image in a sext message. Interestingly, gender was not a significant predictor. Gender not being a significant predictor differs from research into emerging adult relational attachment styles and sexting behaviors. Individuals who sexted for body image reinforcement were more likely to send an image as a sext message. Those who were higher on relational anxiety were less likely to send an image as a sext message., Author(s): Joseph M. Currin [sup.1] , Brittney L. Golden [sup.1] , Randolph D. Hubach [sup.2] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.264784.b, 0000 0001 2186 7496, Department of Psychological Sciences, Texas Tech University, [...]