Attitudes towards women’s masturbation are related to sexual satisfaction in couple relationships

A new study published in The Journal of Sexual Research sheds light on attitudes toward women’s masturbation in romantic relationships and their impact on sexual satisfaction. The researchers found that both women and their partners generally held positive attitudes toward women’s masturbation. For women, these positive attitudes were associated with higher sexual satisfaction for both themselves and their partners.

“Masturbation is a sexual activity that provides pleasure and can help women with orgasm difficulties. However, there is still a stigma attached to female masturbation, especially in relationships,” explained study author Dilan Kılıç Onar. “Although there has been more research on female masturbation recently, it is still not well understood in the context of relationships. Traditional sexual norms that prioritize penetrative sex between partners often overshadow the importance of solo sexual activities.”

“Self-gratification through masturbation is often viewed as a normal, enjoyable and healthy sexual activity. However, when it clashes with the values ​​of oneself and/or one’s sexual partner (or society’s norms), it can cause feelings of guilt, shame, confusion or conflict. These negative emotions can be expressed in relationships due to shared beliefs that only singles masturbate And Masturbation is only acceptable for boys and men.”

“How men in relationships with women view and think about women’s solo masturbation is little researched, but may influence women’s experiences and disclosure regarding their masturbation experience,” said Kılıç Onar. “In short, these are the main reasons why I wanted to examine the similarities and differences between partners’ attitudes toward women’s solo masturbation and the associations between each partner’s attitudes and sexual satisfaction.”

For their study, the researchers recruited 104 couples between the ages of 18 and 65 via social media and the online platform Prolific. Most participants had been in a relationship for one to five years, were predominantly white and well-educated. Both partners in each couple independently completed a comprehensive online survey to protect privacy and minimize potential bias in responses.

In addition to collecting demographic information, the survey included several key measures. First, participants completed the Revised Attitudes Toward Women’s Solo Masturbation Inventory (R-AWMI), which consisted of 27 questions assessing views and attitudes toward women’s solo masturbation. Responses were rated on a scale of 1 (not at all true) to 5 (extremely true), with higher scores indicating more positive attitudes. Additionally, the New Sexual Satisfaction Scale – Short Form (NSSS-S) was used to measure sexual satisfaction. This scale includes questions about self-related and partner-related sexual satisfaction, with higher scores indicating greater satisfaction.

To analyze the data, the researchers used the Actor Partner Interdependence Model (APIM), a statistical procedure that examines how partners’ attitudes affect their own and their partner’s sexual satisfaction. This model takes into account the interdependence between partners and recognizes that the experiences and attitudes of one partner can influence those of the other.

The researchers found that both women and their partners had similar and predominantly positive attitudes toward women’s solo masturbation. Mean scores for attitudes toward women’s masturbation did not differ significantly between women and their partners, suggesting a shared perspective within couples.

“Most women and their partners (44%) in our study reported similar and positive attitudes toward female solo masturbation,” Kılıç Onar told PsyPost. “In addition, in 28% of the couples involved in our study, male partners reported more positive attitudes toward female solo masturbation than female partners.”

“We find these findings noteworthy because a previous systematic review we conducted has highlighted some changes in women’s masturbation habits due to partner-related concerns in relationships. The review showed that some women report shame and/or concerns about their partners’ reactions or perceptions of women’s masturbation and a tendency to hide their solo masturbation experiences from their partner. However, our new findings suggest that by reducing stigma and encouraging open communication about masturbation, couples can have more fulfilling and satisfying sexual experiences.”

One of the most important findings was the association between women’s positive attitudes toward their own masturbation and higher sexual satisfaction in both themselves and their partners. Women who viewed their solo masturbation more positively reported higher sexual satisfaction, which in turn was associated with higher sexual satisfaction in their partners. This highlights the importance of women’s self-perception and acceptance of their own sexual behavior in increasing overall sexual satisfaction within the relationship.

“Everyone deserves pleasure, whether alone or with a partner,” said Kılıç Onar. “Masturbation is not just a sexual activity for singles; in fact, it is also widely practiced among people in relationships. Incorporating women’s masturbation into the sexual narrative of relationships holds significant potential for increasing sexual pleasure and satisfaction for both women and their partners.”

“It is important to combat the stigma and common misconceptions surrounding female masturbation because of the important role it plays in sexual health. By promoting positive attitudes towards sexual self-care, we can build a more inclusive and sex-positive culture. The key to this could be talking openly about pleasure and normalising masturbation for everyone, in any context, regardless of relationship status.”

“In short, accepting women’s masturbation not only helps break down old stigmas, but also increases sexual satisfaction for both individuals and couples,” explained Kılıç Onar. “This approach encourages continuous exploration and adaptation within the sexual relationship and ensures that both partners remain engaged and satisfied.”

“So let’s continue to promote and normalize female masturbation in relationships. Your body, your rules, your pleasure! Remember, sexual health is a crucial part of overall well-being. Let’s keep the conversation going and spread the love (and pleasure)!”

However, like all research, this study has its limitations. The sample was predominantly white, well-educated, and recruited primarily through online platforms, which may limit the generalizability of the results to more diverse populations. In addition, the cross-sectional nature of the study means it cannot establish causality, only associations.

Future research should aim to include more diverse and representative samples to better understand how attitudes toward women’s solo masturbation may differ across different demographic groups. Longitudinal studies would also be beneficial to examine how these attitudes and their impact on sexual satisfaction evolve over time.

“I plan to continue researching women’s sexual desire and couples’ sexual satisfaction, this time in Turkey, as I will be taking up a research and teaching position at Manisa Celal Bayar University in Turkey,” said Kılıç Onar.

Authors of the study “(Dis)similarities in partners’ attitudes toward women’s solitary masturbation: A dyadic approach to solitary masturbation and its associations with sexual satisfaction” are Dilan Kılıç, Heather L. Armstrong and Cynthia A. Graham.