The guilt and pleasure of masturbation: A study of college girls in Gujarat, India

There is a general paucity of data on the sexual behaviour of adolescent girls in Indian society as also about their knowledge concerning sexual matters. This study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of masturbation among first year college girls, and to assess the role of various demographic and sociocultural factors like parental education; socioeconomic background, etc. on their masturbational status. All unmarried, first-year woman students from three womens' colleges in the Anand taluka of Gujarat, India, were studied (n = 530). About 30% (n = 160) admitted that they masturbated. None of them had experienced sexual intercourse and all of them indicated a heterosexual inclination. The mean knowledge score with respect to human sexuality was 6.38 (£ 4.25) on a scale of 25, with a median of 6. Almost 81% of the girls had started masturbating between the ages of 12 to 15 years, with the median age being 15 years. The frequency of masturbation varied from one to five times per week with a median of three times per week. The frequency of masturbation was significantly associated with the residential status of the respondent (i.e. residence in a hostel vis à vis living with parents). All the girls who were practising masturbation felt that it was a bad thing which caused weakness, disease, infertility and marital disharmony. The masturbational status of the individual was found to be significantly associated with the birth order of the respondent, with almost 80% of the masturbators being the second or third child in their families. The other factors which were found to have a significant bearing on masturbation were the educational status of the parents. Girls of educated mothers were more likely to be masturbators. Similarly, access to cable television was also found to exert a strong influence. Masturbators were found to possess significantly better knowledge about normal human sexuality and sexual behaviour in comparison with non-masturbators. The religious commitment of the girl had no significant effect on her masturbational status.