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. 2021 May-Aug;21(2):100222.
doi: 10.1016/j.ijchp.2021.100222. Epub 2021 Feb 4.

Development of the Spanish short version of Negative Attitudes Toward Masturbation Inventory

Oscar Cervilla  1 , Pablo Vallejo-Medina  2 , Carmen Gómez-Berrocal  1 , Juan Carlos Sierra  1
Affiliations

Development of the Spanish short version of Negative Attitudes Toward Masturbation Inventory

Oscar Cervilla et al. Int J Clin Health Psychol. 2021 May-Aug.

Abstract
in English, Spanish

Background/Objective: Masturbation has historically been a sexual behaviour associated with negative connotations, as a consequence of traditional orthodox positions, despite its positive impact on health. The instruments developed to measure the attitude towards masturbation are scarce, and none of them have been validated in the Spanish adult population. This study aims to propose a short version of the Negative Attitudes Toward Masturbation Inventory (NATMI) and examine their psychometric properties (reliability and evidence of validity) in the Spanish adult population. Method: A total of 4,116 heterosexual adults aged 18-83 years (M = 40.58; SD = 12.24; 54.64% women) participated in the study. In addition to the NATMI, they answered other scales to assess sexual attitudes, sexual desire, propensity to become sexually excited/inhibited and sexual functioning. Results: Analysis of the construct validity of the NATMI resulted in a reduced version of ten items grouped into a single factor explaining 66% of the variance (ordinal alpha = .95). The evidence of validity is clear, as subjects with negative and positive attitude towards masturbation differed in religiousness, frequency of masturbation, erotophilia, positive attitude towards sexual fantasies, sexual inhibition and sexual functioning. Conclusions: The Spanish short version of NATMI provides reliable and valid measures in the Spanish adult population.

Antecedentes/objetivo: La masturbación ha sido una conducta sexual asociada históricamente a connotaciones negativas, como consecuencia de posturas tradicionales ortodoxas, a pesar de su impacto positivo en la salud. Son escasos los instrumentos desarrollados para medir la actitud hacia la masturbación, no existiendo ninguno validado en población adulta española. El objetivo de este estudio es proponer una versión breve del Negative Attitudes Toward Masturbation Inventory (NATMI) y examinar sus propiedades psicométricas (fiabilidad y evidencias de validez) en población adulta española. Método: Participaron 4.116 adultos heterosexuales de 18-83 años (M = 40,58; DT = 12,24; 54,64% mujeres), que respondieron además del NATMI a otras escalas para evaluar actitudes sexuales, deseo sexual, propensión a excitarse/inhibirse sexualmente y funcionamiento sexual. Resultados: El análisis de la validez de constructo dio lugar a una versión reducida de diez ítems agrupados en un único factor que explica el 66% de la varianza (alfa ordinal = 0,95). Se aportan evidencias de validez, ya que los sujetos con actitud negativa y positiva hacia la masturbación se diferencian en religiosidad, frecuencia de masturbación, erotofilia, actitud positiva hacia las fantasías sexuales, inhibición sexual y funcionamiento sexual. Conclusiones: La versión española breve del NATMI proporciona medidas fiables y validas en población adulta española.

Keywords: Attitude toward masturbation; Instrumental study; Negative Attitudes Toward Masturbation Inventory; Reliability; Validity evidence.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Standardised estimates of the 10-item unifactorial model. Note. The items maintain the numbering of the original 30-item version.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Comparisons between groups with positive and negative attitudes towards masturbation in frequency of masturbation, religiosity, erotophilia, positive attitude towards sexual fantasies, sexual inhibition due to fear of failure in sexual performance and solitary sexual desire. Note. The red dot shows the population mean (µ) of that group together with the corresponding confidence interval. Below each figure are the results of the Bayesian analysis.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Comparisons between groups with positive and negative attitudes towards masturbation in the dimensions of sexual functioning: desire, arousal, erection/vaginal lubrication, ease of reaching orgasm and orgasm satisfaction. Note. The red dot shows the population mean (µ) of that group together with the corresponding confidence interval. Below each figure are the results of the Bayesian analysis.
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