{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,5]],"date-time":"2026-05-05T02:45:52Z","timestamp":1777949152714,"version":"3.51.4"},"reference-count":37,"publisher":"Oxford University Press (OUP)","issue":"5","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,9]],"date-time":"2026-04-09T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1775692800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/academic.oup.com\/pages\/standard-publication-reuse-rights"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":[],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,9]]},"abstract":"<jats:title>Abstract<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Introduction<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Long-distance relationships (LDRs) reduce opportunities for physical intimacy, often prompting individuals to seek alternative sexual activities such as masturbation. Although common, its influence on sexual satisfaction, sexual health, psychological well-being, and relational stability in LDRs remains understudied. Moreover, cultural and population differences shape diverse meanings and perspectives on masturbation.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Objectives<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>We employed a systematic review approach to explore the role of masturbation within long-distance relationships. Specifically, this review aims to examine how masturbation is associated with sexual, relational, and psychological outcomes and how these perspectives vary across cultural contexts.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>A systematic review was conducted following the PRISMA guidelines, compiling both quantitative and qualitative studies on masturbation as an alternative sexual activity in LDRs as well as its implications for sexual satisfaction, relationship satisfaction, and psychological well-being.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Fourteen studies were eligible for further analysis in which men reported higher frequencies of masturbation compared to women, with significant increases observed in the context of long-distance relationships and during COVID-19 quarantine periods. Men were mainly motivated by biological release, orgasm, and stress reduction, often with pornography, whereas women reported broader motives such as relaxation, better sleep, stress relief, and emotional closeness. The effects on sexual satisfaction were mixed: masturbation was reported to be associated with greater body awareness, self-esteem, and relational harmony, yet excessive frequency was linked to lower satisfaction and arousal. Mutual, technology-mediated practices helped maintain intimacy, while excessive solitary use undermined relationship quality. From a sexual health perspective, moderate masturbation may be associated with indirect benefits through improved body awareness, whereas frequent use was linked to poorer experiences. Psychologically, it served as a coping strategy for sleep and stress, but excessive engagement increased anxiety and reduced emotional well-being.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Masturbation appears to be a common and potentially adaptive alternative sexual activity in the context of LDRs and during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, in Eastern contexts, its meaning and impact are strongly shaped by sociocultural and religious norms.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1093\/jsxmed\/qdag121","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,14]],"date-time":"2026-04-14T11:32:17Z","timestamp":1776166337000},"source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Masturbation as a sexual and psychological coping strategy in long-distance relationships: a systematic review"],"prefix":"10.1093","volume":"23","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0001-1217-1048","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Nur H S","family":"Kusuma","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"General Practitioner, Health Office of Malang City, Malang City General Hospital , Malang 65137 ,","place":["Indonesia"]},{"name":"Andrology Study Program, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Airlangga , Surabaya 60286 ,","place":["Indonesia"]}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-8636-8492","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Dicky F","family":"Irnandi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Brawijaya , Malang 65145 ,","place":["Indonesia"]}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-0157-1131","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Cennikon","family":"Pakpahan","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Andrology Study Program, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Airlangga , Surabaya 60286 ,","place":["Indonesia"]},{"name":"Doctorate Program in Medicine and Translational Research, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universitat de Barcelona , Barcelona 08036 ,","place":["Spain"]}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-1235-1532","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Thi Tu","family":"An Nguyen","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Social Sciences, Monash University , Melbourne 3008 ,","place":["Australia"]}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"286","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,3]]},"reference":[{"issue":"2","key":"2026050307483403600_ref1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"235","DOI":"10.3390\/healthcare12020235","article-title":"Relationship between solitary masturbation and sexual satisfaction: a systematic review","volume":"12","author":"Cervilla","year":"2024","journal-title":"Healthcare."},{"key":"2026050307483403600_ref2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"498","DOI":"10.1080\/00224499.2025.2555053","article-title":"Trends in masturbation prevalence and associated factors: findings from the British National Surveys of sexual attitudes and lifestyles","volume":"63","author":"Fischer","year":"2025","journal-title":"J Sex Res"},{"issue":"7","key":"2026050307483403600_ref3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"683","DOI":"10.1080\/0092623X.2020.1781722","article-title":"What does research tell us about Women\u2019s experiences, motives and perceptions of masturbation within a relationship context?: a systematic review of qualitative studies","volume":"46","author":"K\u0131l\u0131\u00e7 Onar","year":"2020","journal-title":"J Sex Marital Ther"},{"key":"2026050307483403600_ref4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"510","DOI":"10.1080\/00224499.2025.2489091","article-title":"Masturbation trajectories from late adolescence into mid-adulthood: a population-based longitudinal study","volume":"63","author":"Ivanova","year":"2025","journal-title":"J Sex Res"},{"issue":"12","key":"2026050307483403600_ref5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"693121","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyg.2021.693121","article-title":"Is ejaculation frequency in men related to general and mental health? 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