Masturbation Frequency and Patterns Among U.S. Adolescents

Abstract

Purpose: Masturbation is an accepted component of normal child and adolescent sexual development, but is stigmatized, potentially distressing, and rarely discussed by adolescents and their providers. While resources have been devoted to other aspects of adolescent sexuality, little research has been done on masturbation. In this study, we assessed masturbation occurrence and frequency in a representative sample of American adolescents. Methods: Using nationally representative samples established through a Knowledge Network®, adolescents (n=820; male=418, female=402) aged 14-17 years answered questions about their sexual history. The sample was stratified to the January 2009 U.S. census update. Study measures were age, gender, ethnicity, and solo masturbation occurrence over time. Results: The following ethnicities were represented: white, non-Hispanic (60.3%, n=494); Hispanic (18.3%, n=150); black, non-Hispanic (13.9%, n=114); other, non-Hispanic (4.6%, n=38); and more than 2 races, non-Hispanic (2.5%, n=21). Adolescents identified themselves as heterosexual (93.4%), bisexual (4.9%), homosexual (1%), asexual (.1%), or other (.6%). Parental income was identified as less than $25,000/year (12.8%), 25-50K (21.9%), 50-75K (21.1%), and>75K (44.1%). More males (73.8%) reported masturbation than females (48.1%). Among males, masturbation occurrence increased with age: at age 14, 62.6% of males reported at least one prior occurrence whereas 79.8% of 17 year-old males reported ever having masturbated. Recent masturbation also increased with age in males. Only 36.3% of 14 year-old males reported masturbation in the past month compared to 64.4% of 17 year-olds. In females, prior masturbation increased with age (58% at age 17 compared to 43.3% at age 14), however, recent masturbation did not. Differences by ethnicity also existed. Hispanic adolescents had the highest rates of masturbation: 94.8% of Hispanic males reported prior masturbation compared to 71.3% of white males, and 58.9% of black males; 55.4% of Hispanic females reported prior masturbation, compared to 46.6% of black females, and 44.1% of white females. Conclusions: This study presents data on a common behavior, masturbation, in a sample of adolescents representative of the socioeconomic and ethnic diversity that exists in the United States today. Masturbation experience increases with age in both genders, indicating that sexual development is a dynamic process during adolescence. In addition, masturbation varies according to gender and ethnicity, suggesting that cultural factors influence sexual expression. Providers need to remain knowledgeable about such influencing factors, know that sexuality evolves during adolescence, and recognize that many teens masturbate in order to educate and reassure adolescents about normal sexual development.