Masturbation as a mental hygiene problem—a study of the beliefs of seventy-five young men.

Abstract

This study revealed that 66, or 86.7%, of the young men had heard from one or more sources that masturbation has a seriously damaging effect upon those who practice it. All but 5 of the young men believed at the time they gave the information that the practice of masturbation has one or more types of harmful effects upon the individual. The opinions held by a fairly representative group of college men who participated in this study indicate that masturbation is a mental hygiene problem of considerable significance. The facts secured indicate that they have beliefs that produce both guilt and fear. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved)