Validation of masturbation parameters: A laboratory study measuring psychophysiological and subjective sexual arousal

Abstract

Considering masturbation parameters other than frequency provides a more holistic view of this sexual behavior. This study aims to provide validity evidence for masturbation parameters (i.e., negative attitudes toward masturbation, solitary sexual desire, current masturbation frequency, and subjective orgasm experience) through their relationship with different measures of sexual arousal (i.e., genital response, rating of sexual arousal, and rating of genital sensations). Eighty young cisgender adults (40 men and 40 women) aged 18 to 30 years, who engaged in heterosexual sexual relationships, participated in a laboratory task in which their sexual arousal was recorded in response to neutral and sexual videos. Regression models were conducted to examine the association between masturbation parameters and sexual arousal measures.