Aspects Related to Masturbation: Gender and Sexual Orientation do Matter

What is it about?

Masturbation is a common sexual behavior associated with sexual well-being and can be used in sexual therapy. Traditionally, research has focused on the frequency of this practice, overlooking other potentially relevant aspects, such as attitudes toward the behavior, solitary sexual desire, or the subjective experience of orgasm in this context. Furthermore, research in this area has primarily focused on heterosexual individuals, resulting in limited representation of sexual diversity. With the aim of providing a more comprehensive view of the study of masturbation, this research analyzes various parameters related to masturbation (i.e., age of first masturbation, negative attitudes, solitary sexual desire, current frequency, and subjective orgasm experience) based on gender and sexual orientation. A total of 1,568 cisgender individuals participated in the study (493 heterosexual men, 478 gay men, 490 heterosexual women, and 107 lesbian women), all residing in Spain. The results revealed gender-based differences. Compared to women, men reported more negative attitudes toward masturbation, began masturbating earlier, experienced higher levels of solitary sexual desire, and engaged in masturbation more frequently. However, women reported more intense orgasms during masturbation, especially in its affective, sensory, and intimate dimensions. Regarding sexual orientation, gay individuals (both men and women) began masturbating earlier than heterosexual individuals, with no significant differences observed in the remaining parameters. Finally, the results also showed that these masturbation parameters differ between men and women depending on their sexual orientation. Specifically, gay men reported higher levels of solitary sexual desire, greater masturbation frequency, and more intense orgasmic experiences than heterosexual men, while lesbian women reported lower scores on all of these variables. One possible explanation is that, for heterosexual men, masturbation may serve a compensatory function in response to sexual dissatisfaction in their relationships, whereas gay men may be more focused on the physical sensations and physiological effects of masturbation, which could result in a more intense orgasmic experience. Among women, orgasm appears to hold greater subjective value for heterosexual women compared to lesbians, which may help explain the lower orgasm intensity reported by the latter in the context of masturbation.

Featured Image

Photo by Maria Talks on Unsplash

Photo by Maria Talks on Unsplash

Why is it important?

This study highlights the importance of considering both gender and sexual orientation in order to better understand masturbation and its relationship with sexual health. These findings have significant implications for sexual education as well as therapeutic interventions, promoting an inclusive and diversity-based perspective.

Perspectives