Reclaiming the body: The role of embodiment in the association between post-traumatic stress disorder and masturbation motivations.

This article investigates the relationships between post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, embodiment—the lived experience of being connected to one's body—and motivations for masturbation, specifically focusing on feelings of unattractiveness, compulsion, and adherence to perceived social norms. Using a sample of 580 predominantly female participants, the study found that higher PTSD symptoms were associated with lower embodiment, which in turn was linked to increased masturbation motivated by negative self-perception and social conformity, indicating full indirect effects. Compulsive masturbation showed a partial indirect association with embodiment, suggesting additional trauma-related factors such as emotional dysregulation may contribute. The findings highlight the importance of addressing embodiment disruptions in trauma-informed care to support sexual healing and underscore the complex role of solitary sexual behavior as both a coping mechanism and a reflection of trauma-related self-perception.