The meanings of masturbation

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the varied meanings that masturbation has to individuals. We used answers from a qualitative pilot study to create a quantitative and qualitative questionnaire tapping respondents reasons for wanting to (or being tempted to) masturbate, reasons for avoiding (or trying to avoid) masturbation, and emotions (or expected emotions) during masturbation. A sample of college students, 243 women and 275 men, completed this questionnaire anonymously. Using factor analysis, we created subscales, which were used in a cluster analysis that generated four distinct approaches to masturbation: enthusiastic, lukewarm, immoral, and ambivalent. Understanding these approaches and the attitudes, beliefs, and emotions related to masturbation may help improve clinical treatments for sexual dysfunction that involve masturbation training.