This study investigated the interaction between sexual fantasy target, sexual fantasy behaviour and masturbation, controlling for sexual compulsivity. An online sample (n = 126) was recruited and completed a sexual fantasy measure assessing the frequency of sexual fantasising about different sexual behaviours (paraphilic vs non-paraphilic) with and without masturbation across different fantasy targets (a current partner, a crush, and an anonymous stranger). They also completed a motivation to act measure, where the motivation to enact a fantasy in real life with the different fantasy targets was assessed, as well as the Sexual Compulsivity Scale. Results revealed a significant three-way interaction between sexual fantasy target, sexual fantasy behaviour and masturbation. When accounting for sexual compulsivity, this three-way interaction did not quite reach significance. Importantly though, the two-way interaction between sexual fantasy target and sexual fantasy behaviour remained significant. The results from this study suggest that it is important to take into account the interplay between different factors in a sexual fantasy, such as that between sexual fantasy target and sexual fantasy behaviour, highlighting the multidimensional nature of sexual fantasising.
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