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Predisposing factors in childhood masturbation in Turkey
1University of Hacettepe, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Ankara, Turkey. funal@hacettepe.edu.tr
Insights
This study found that children experiencing masturbation often had sleep difficulties and shorter breastfeeding durations. Onset was linked to genitourinary issues or stressful life events, aiding in identifying at-risk children.
Area of Science:
- Child Psychiatry
- Developmental Psychology
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Childhood masturbation is a complex behavior with limited controlled research.
- Understanding associated demographical and developmental factors is crucial for clinical assessment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the demographical and developmental features of childhood masturbation.
- To compare children with masturbation to control groups for identifying risk factors.
Main Methods:
- Prospective, referral-based study design.
- Inclusion of 61 children with masturbation, compared with 61 age/gender-matched controls and 43 siblings.
- Assessment of demographical, psychosocial, and medical aspects.
Main Results:
- Children with masturbation exhibited more frequent sleep difficulties (P < 0.001).
- Shorter breastfeeding duration was observed in the masturbation group (P < 0.05).
- Onset correlated with genitourinary disorders or stressful life events (e.g., weaning, sibling birth, parental separation).
Conclusions:
- This is the first controlled study on childhood masturbation's clinical and developmental features.
- Findings can assist in identifying children potentially at risk for this condition.
Unlabelled:
The aim of this prospective, referral-based study was to assess demographical and developmental features associated with childhood masturbation in Turkey. A total of 61 children with childhood masturbation who were referred for the first time to the Department of Child Psychiatry were examined from demographical, psychosocial and medical aspects and compared with two control groups consisting of 61 age and gender matched children who were brought to the paediatric outpatient clinics and 43 children and adolescents who were the biological siblings of the study group. In children with masturbation, sleep difficulties were more frequent (P < 0.001) and breast-feeding was shorter than in controls (P < 0.05). The onset of masturbation was often associated with a genito-urinary disorder or a stressful life event like weaning, the birth of a sibling, or separation from the parents.
Conclusion:
This is the first controlled study investigating the clinical and the developmental features of childhood masturbation. These findings may help identify children who could be at risk for this condition.