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

Despite substantial research on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and sexual difficulties, the relationships between PTSD symptoms and masturbation motivations remain underexplored. Furthermore, few studies have employed the lens of embodiment to understand these dynamics, despite the established association between embodiment and PTSD and embodiment and sexuality. This study addresses this gap by investigating the association between PTSD symptoms, embodiment, and three masturbation motivations: feelings of unattractiveness, compulsion, and adherence to perceived social norms. The study sample comprised 580 participants (84% women, M_age = 29.89, SD = 10.41) recruited through online convenience sampling. Validated self-report measures assessed PTSD symptoms, embodiment, and masturbation motivations. Structural equation modelling with bootstrapping was used to examine direct and indirect associations. The results showed that PTSD symptoms were negatively associated with embodiment, and embodiment was statistically associated with both PTSD symptoms and masturbation motivated by feelings of unattractiveness, as well as with masturbation motivated by adherence to perceived social norms, indicating full indirect associations. For masturbation motivated by compulsion, partial indirect association was observed, as a direct pathway between PTSD symptoms and compulsion remained significant. The indirect association observed for masturbation motivated by feelings of unattractiveness highlights the central role of disrupted self-perception and body image in trauma-related sexual behaviours. These findings emphasize the importance of addressing embodiment disruptions in trauma-focused interventions, as enhancing embodiment may support the healing and reclamation of sexuality following trauma.