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

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.

In men, solitary sexual desire (β = .72) and current masturbation frequency (β = -0.49) were related to the rating of genital sensations. In women, current masturbation frequency was related to genital response (β = .33), the rating of sexual arousal (β = .43), and the rating of genital sensations (β = .44); this last measure of sexual arousal was also related to the rewards dimension of subjective orgasm experience (β = .37).

These results provide validity evidence of masturbation parameters in individuals who engaged in heterosexual sexual relationships. The importance of considering these parameters in the induction of sexual arousal, taking gender into account, is discussed.