Comparative characteristics of the influence of autoerotic practice on the development of psychoemotional disorders among young people on the example of medical students of the National Pirogov Memorial Medical University, Vinnytsya

Abstract

Autoerotism is the practice of sexual stimulation. The most common autoerotic practice is masturbation, and these two terms are often used interchangeably, although masturbation can also occur with a partner. Recent data from the European Study on Aging Men have shown that masturbation is an independent indicator in the overall global assessment of sexual health. Masturbation has long been ostracized and considered a moral sin by several religions such as Judaism, Islam, and Christianity. Traditionally, such sexual behavior has been associated with many diseases, such as madness, seizures, blindness and even impotence. Today, masturbation is no longer considered a harmful habit, as it can even help to protect people from the risk of sexually transmitted diseases. The objective: to study the relationship between the influence of malakia and the development of psychoemotional disorders in young people using the example of medical students of the 4th–5th years of the National Pirogov Memorial Medical University. Materials and methods. A clinical and psychological examination of 1118 medical students was carried out using the screening scales “Patient Health Questionnaire” (PHQ-9) and the questionnaire “General Anxiety Disorder-7” (GAD-7). Domestic and foreign students were divided into two groups based on their attitude to masturbation and its application in everyday life. Namely: on those who have a positive attitude to this type of self-pleasure, and on those who consider it absolutely unacceptable. The levels of anxiety and depressive disorders in both groups of respondents were determined and then compared. Results. It was established that 19.3% of domestic students and 31.2% of foreign respondents do not have anxiety disorders. Among domestic sexually active students, a mild degree of anxiety prevails (44.4%), a moderate degree is found in 26%, and a severe degree – in 10.4%. Among virgin domestic students, a mild degree of anxiety prevails, which is found in 46.6% of respondents, a medium degree in 20%, and a severe degree in 13.4%. Among sexually active foreign students, mild anxiety disorder was most common in 34.7% of cases, moderate in 15.4% of cases, and severe in 13.8%. Among virgin foreign students, 34.5% have a mild degree of anxiety, 21.4% have a medium degree, and 17.8% have a severe degree of anxiety. No influence of masturbation on the development of depressive disorders in medical students was found (X2=1.41; p≥0.05), but it was found that autoerotic practice affects their anxiety level (X2=6.37; p<0.05). Conclusions. Autoerotic practice does not have a significant impact on the development of depressive disorders. Instead, malakia was found to significantly reduce anxiety disorders in both sexually active and inactive young adults.