A Seemingly Paradoxical Relationship Between Masturbation Frequency and Sexual Satisfaction

Abstract

Despite many benefits related to masturbation, we know surprisingly little about how solo sex is associated with sexual satisfaction. Using questionnaire data from a probability-based sample of 4,160 Norwegians aged 18–89 years, we explored subgroups of women and men that differed in their masturbation–sexual satisfaction typology and examined whether sociodemographic, psychological, and sexual behavioral characteristics were associated with distinct masturbation–satisfaction patterns. A cluster analysis revealed four similar groupings for women and men, reflecting sex lives characterized by high masturbation/sexual satisfaction, low masturbation/sexual satisfaction, high masturbation/sexual dissatisfaction, or low masturbation/sexual dissatisfaction. While being younger, higher pornography consumption, and sexual variety were primarily associated with increased masturbation frequency, sexual distress and a negative body and genital self-image were more clearly associated with sexual dissatisfaction. Predicting different masturbation–satisfaction groupings also revealed some gender-specific findings in the use of pornography, and in the association between masturbation and intercourse frequency, which suggested a complementary pattern for women and a compensatory pattern for men. Our findings emphasize that the linkage between masturbation and sexual satisfaction warrants closer focus.

The Role of Mutual Masturbation within Relationships: Associations with Sexual Satisfaction and Sexual Self-Esteem

“…To the best of our knowledge, the current study is the first to report data on both women’s and men’s experiences of mutual masturbation through a positive lens. The current findings help to close the gap in previous research about the link between masturbation and sexual satisfaction as most studies have only assessed sexual satisfaction within a dyadic context (partnered intercourse and sexual satisfaction; Fischer & Træen, 2022 ). And, when masturbation was assessed, most researchers did not make a clear distinction between solo and mutual masturbation (Bridges et al., 2004 ; Regnerus et al., 2017 ).…”

“…Improvements in sexual satisfaction are associated with enhancements in overall romantic relationship satisfaction, and vice versa (Byers, 2002 , 2005 ; Sprecher, 2002 ). Masturbation only partly contributes to one’s satisfaction with overall sex life and research on sexual satisfaction has mainly focused on satisfaction with partnered sex; thus, our understanding of the association between masturbation and satisfaction with one’s “own” sexuality is limited (Fischer & Træen, 2022 ).…”

Satisfacción Sexual y Calidad del Sueño en Estudiantes Universitarios

“…Para alcanzar los objetivos del presente estudio, se propuso evaluar el nivel de las variables investigadas, hallando como resultados, en cuanto a los niveles de Satisfacción Sexual, que el 44,4 % de participantes se muestran muy satisfechos con su vida sexual, el 28,1 % extremadamente satisfechos y el 27,5 % satisfechos, estos datos demuestran coincidencia con Lin & Lin (2018) quienes encontraron un nivel promedio entre medio y alto; y en cierta medida con un estudio realizado por Fischer & Traeen (2022) quienes hallaron niveles altos de satisfacción sexual en un 64,6 % de su población; no obstante, en este mismo estudio también encuentran niveles bajos en un 35,4 %, incongruente con los resultados de esta investigación, posiblemente debido a que su estudio incluyo participantes de hasta 89 años. Por otra parte, Frederick et al (2017) encontraron que la mayoría, 83 % de sus participantes estaban satisfechos con su vida sexual durante los 6 primeros meses con su pareja, cifra que disminuyó conforme la duración de la relación aumentaba, y razón por la cual se recomienda considerar aspectos de la relación de pareja, como su duración para futuras investigaciones.…”

Masturbation Prevalence, Frequency, Reasons, and Associations with Partnered Sex in the Midst of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Findings from a U.S. Nationally Representative Survey

“…However, the overall pattern of men reporting greater prevalence, frequency, and recency of masturbation remains. Researchers have speculated that such gender differences may be explained by differences in sex drive or may be due to gender differences in traditional sexual scripts that normalize masturbation among boys and men while repressing or stigmatizing it among girls and women (Baumeister et al, 2001 ; Fischer & Traeen, 2022 ; Haus & Thompson, 2020 ). Certainly, this study confirms how common masturbation or not masturbating is among men and women despite the differences between the genders.…”