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 The study was a secondary analysis of cross-sectional data composed of 1028 heterosexual adults aged 18–75 years (M = 37.08, SD = 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.