![]() The authors erroneously interpreted the findings of two research studies, incorrectly stating that masturbation was associated with an increased risk of depression. ![]() ![]() In a 2010 paper, researcher Stuart Brody expresses his opinion that: “It is likely that only unfettered, real has important mood-enhancing benefits.” In describing the findings of another research study, he confuses correlation with causation in his attempt to argue that semen-vagina contact is important, and he does a rather odd connect-the-dots with the statement that “more condom use means more depression and more suicide attempts.”Ī 2013 paper coauthored by Brody claims in its title that “immature psychological defense mechanisms are associated with women’s greater desire for and actual engaging in masturbation”. In the academic journal articles I looked at for this post, these negative views seemed to be most associated with studies that had considerable flaws. Negative views of masturbation still exist, both socially and in academic circles. This became a topic of interest in the field of psychoanalysis, and while Sigmund Freud argued that masturbation caused neurasthenia, he later concluded that it may help to prevent neurosis. Thinking began to change in the 20th century, as some sex researchers argued that masturbation was healthy and normal. In the Victorian era, masturbation was seen as a potential cause for an array of different medical conditions, including epilepsy, insanity, neurosis, and neurasthenia (a condition characterized by weakness and fatigue). What I did find was a mix of interesting information and rather dubious scholarship. I was curious to see what science had to say about this, and was actually a bit surprised to see how little research has been done on the topic. My line of thinking goes, if orgasms get the feel-good chemicals flowing, might that have any sort of benefit for depression? And especially for single folks like myself - could masturbation have any positive effect when it comes to depression? It’s well known that both depression itself and antidepressant medication can dampen sex drive, but is it like any other kind of behavioural activation where you try to fake it until we make it? While this may seem like a bit of an odd topic, it’s something I’ve vaguely wondered about for a while.
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