In steady heterosexual relationships men masturbate more than women because of gender differences in sex drive

This study investigated the suggestion that a gender difference in the frequency of masturbation exists due to a gender difference in sex drive. The research sample consisted of 554 Dutch participants of whom 355 were women and 199 men. The average age of the women was 42.02 years (SD = 10.77) and the average age of the men was 44.62 years (SD = 11.06). All participants were engaged in a steady heterosexual relationship. Higher sex drive scores were significantly positively related to the frequency of reported masturbation (B = .14; t(550) = 10.33, p < .001) and the frequency of reported partnered sex (B = .07; t(550) = 5.10, p < .001). Furthermore, women reported a masturbation frequency of about once per two weeks, while men reported a significantly higher masturbation frequency of about twice per week (B = -.77; t(551) = -11.70, p < .001). Regarding reported frequency of partnered sex, no significant gender difference was found (B = -.04; t(551) = -.62, p = .534). Both women and men reported a frequency of about three times per two weeks. With regard to masturbation, a mediation analysis controlled for age with sex drive as a mediator, showed that sex drive significantly mediated the relationship between gender and the reported frequency of masturbation (Z = -9.14, SE = .06, p < .001). The same mediation analysis was performed regarding the reported frequency of partnered sex. For partnered sex, sex drive also had a significant mediation effect, but as a suppressor (Z = -4.85, SE = .05, p < .001). It is concluded that in steady heterosexual relationships, the gender difference in sex drive is responsible for the fact that men masturbate more than women. Possible reasons for this are explored.