Masturbation in a Generational Perspective

Abstract

Each generation has adopted views on masturbation via transforming cultural definitions of sexuality and normality. This article presents how masturbation habits have changed during the last decades in different generations and how these habits are linked to the partnership status. The analysis is based on three national follow-up sex surveys in new generation had been more active in masturbation than the previous one. However, in Estonia masturbation had increased in each generation about 20 years later and in St. Petersburg about 30 years later than in Finland and Sweden. The increase in masturbation was almost unrelated to the relationship status and to the years spent in the relationship. The masturbation habits that each generation had internalized in adolescence seemed to remain unchanged through the course of their lives. The implications of these findings are that masturbation did not decrease with age and that masturbation was not a compensation for a missing sex partner but an independent way to gain sexual pleasure. The results indicate that masturbation is linked to Osmo Kontula is affiliated with The Population Research Institute, The Family Federation of Finland.Elina Haavio-Mannila is affiliated with the

Prevalence of Masturbation and Associated Factors in a British National Probability Survey

“…These findings were consistent with previous national surveys in the U.S. and France (Laumann et al, 1994;Spira et al, 1994). The positive associations between reporting masturbation and any previous homosexual experiences, as well as between reporting masturbation and an earlier age at first sex (among women only) confirmed findings reported on a Finnish sample (Kontula & Haavio-Mannila, 2002). The significant increase in reported masturbation among both men and women as level of education and social class increased supports associations reported in other national surveys.…”

“…The significant increase in reported masturbation among both men and women as level of education and social class increased supports associations reported in other national surveys. These associations have been attributed to greater access to public debate, to information, and to sex education, which may help reduce fears and guilt (Kontula & Haavio-Mannila, 2002), and increased willingness to report masturbation.…”

“…It has been recommended as a way for people to familiarize themselves with their body and their sexual responses (Zamboni & Crawford, 2002) and used as a treatment for premature ejaculation and orgasmic disorders in women (Heiman & LoPiccolo, 1988). Masturbation has also been presented as a way people in later life might fulfil their sexual needs if experiencing difficulty finding new sexual partners (Kontula & Haavio-Mannila, 2002).…”

“…More recent national surveys of sexual behavior in several countries have included questions on masturbation (Béjin, 1996;Kontula & Haavio-Mannila, 2002;Laumann, Gagnon, Michael, & Michaels, 1994;Spira, Bajos, & ACSF Group, 1994). The reported rates of masturbation varied widely, in part reflecting methodological differences in terms of survey design, question wording, and method of questioning.…”

“…Laumann et al (1994) found that the largest proportion of their participants chose "to release sexual tension" and to obtain "physical pleasure" as their reasons for masturbating but other reasons given were "to relax," to "get to sleep" or because their current partner did not want sex (the latter was reported by three times as many men as women). The most common reasons were perhaps the most obvious; however, there has been debate around whether masturbation is a substitute for sex with a partner (Dekker & Schmidt, 2002;Kontula & Haavio-Mannila, 2002;Pinkerton et al, 2002) or a behavior that is part of a wide repertoire of acts aimed at sexual expression and satisfaction, irrespective of partnership status (Laumann et al, 1994;Pinkerton et al, 2002). Some studies report that while frequency of intercourse in the last four weeks decreased with the increased duration of the relationship, frequency of masturbation actually increased with time in long lasting unions (Dekker & Schmidt, 2002;Kontula & Haavio-Mannila, 2002).…”