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A Systematic Review of the Psychological and Cultural Dimensions of Masturbation in Adolescents
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Hadi Pordel *    |
| Shahed University, H.PORDEL2@YAHOO.COM , H.PORDEL2@YAHOO.COM |
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Abstract: (19 Views) |
Background and objective: Masturbation is a common sexual behavior during adolescence, often accompanied by cultural taboos and negative attitudes. While it can be a natural part of sexual development, lack of proper education may lead to feelings of guilt or anxiety. The present study aimed to systematically review research from the past decade and identify the psychological (e.g., anxiety, stress, emotion regulation) and cultural (e.g., shame, taboos, social attitudes) aspects of masturbation in adolescents.
Methods: This study was conducted as a systematic review following the PRISMA guidelines. Comprehensive searches were performed in PubMed, Scopus, PsycINFO, SID, and Google Scholar using the keywords: masturbation, adolescence, psychological aspects, cultural factors, sexual behavior from 2015 to 2025. Inclusion criteria encompassed studies focusing on adolescents with valid quantitative or qualitative data, while studies with incomplete or irrelevant data were excluded. The quality of the included studies was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute tool.
Findings: A total of 97 articles were initially identified, and after screening and quality assessment, 12 studies met the inclusion criteria. The findings indicate that adolescents engage in masturbation not only as part of natural sexual development but also as a strategy for emotion regulation and stress relief. Negative cultural, social, and parental attitudes were associated with feelings of guilt, shame, and anxiety, impacting adolescents’ psychological experiences
Conclusion: The results emphasize the necessity of evidence-based, non-judgmental sexual education and highlight the important role of healthy communication within families and schools in preventing psychological consequences related to masturbation. Conducting culturally contextualized and longitudinal research is recommended to further elucidate the cultural and psychological patterns underlying adolescent sexual behavior.
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| Keywords: Adolescence, Masturbation, Sexual development, Emotion regulation, Sex education, Mental health |
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Type of Study: Review |
Subject:
General
Received: 2025/09/23 | Accepted: 2025/11/10
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