The Global Measure of Masturbation Satisfaction (GMMAST): Scale Development and Preliminary Validation

Solo masturbation is a common sexual behavior, but its role in well-being is poorly understood. One reason is that the extant literature has generally focused on how engagement in masturbation (e.g., in the past 4 weeks) relates to well-being while neglecting how the subjective experience of masturbation (e.g., as valuable and positive or not) might impact well-being. This report describes the development of the brief, 5-item Global Measure of Masturbation Satisfaction (GMMAST). The measure was developed using a sample of 2,486 adults who had masturbated in the past month, drawn from the Masturbation and Sexual Health Survey, a U.S. national survey. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses and tests of measurement invariance suggest the scale has strong psychometric properties. Associations with related constructs (e.g., positive and negative masturbation attitudes, masturbation motives, receipt of sexual education) provide preliminary evidence of validity.