Mapping Partnered Sex and Solitary Masturbation: A Cluster Analysis

Objective: A profile composed of sociodemographic and masturbation-related variables was examined in men and women in heterosexual relationships who exhibited different patterns of partnered sex and masturbation frequency. Methods: = 11.95) distributed into three clusters previously identified in prior analyses of this sample: one characterized by high frequencies of both partnered sex and solitary masturbation (HighPS_HighM), another high solitary masturbation frequency (LowPS_HighM), and a third by elevated partnered sex frequency (HighPS_LowM). Results: Overall, the results revealed differences in sociodemographic and masturbation-related variables among the clusters, including age of first masturbation, attitudes toward masturbation, reasons for masturbating, solitary sexual desire, subjective orgasm experience, and pornography use. Conclusions: These findings underscore the importance of considering masturbation-related factors in understanding sexual health within the couple context.