A Period of Abstinence from Masturbation and Pornography Leads to Lower Fatigue and Various Other Benefits: A Quantitative Study

Many young men have noticed significant personal benefits from abstaining from online pornography and masturbation which has resulted in a large online movement. This study is a step toward quantitatively exploring these benefits in 21 single men who underwent three weeks of pornography and masturbation abstinence. When comparing the abstinence group to a control group, we found significantly strong effects of reduced mental and physiological fatigue. Furthermore, medium effects were discovered in measures of increased wakefulness, activity, inspiration, self-control, and reduced shyness. Participants who additionally abstained from sex showed even stronger effects in reduced mental and physiological fatigue. The effects found suggest energizing and performance-enhancing potentials in a non-clinical group of single male subjects. These findings could be relevant to the treatment of a range of clinical symptoms including social anxiety, lethargy, and fatigue. A limited period of sexual abstinence might also increase personal, athletic, and professional performance.