Abstinence

This is a summary of a study investigating the psychological and sexual health impacts of “No Nut november” (NNN). Here’s a breakdown of the key points:

What is No Nut November (NNN)?

NNN is a social challenge where participants abstain from ejaculation for the entire month of November.
It’s presented as a short-term challenge, distinct from longer-term commitments like NoFap.
The study authors highlight the growing participation in NNN and the need for robust research into its effects.

Goal: To be the first systematic and empirical evaluation of NNN’s impact on sexual health and wellbeing.
Methodology:
An online survey was used to gather data.
Participants were recruited through various online platforms.
Participants were categorized into “cases” (previous or prospective NNN participants) and “controls” (NNN non-participants).
Data was collected at two time points:
Time 1 (T1): October 2023 (before NNN).
Time 2 (T2): December 2023/January 2024 (after NNN concluded).
The survey included questionnaires measuring:
Sexual Pleasure Scale (SPS)
Sexual desire Inventory-Solitary (SDI-SD)
Arizona Sexual Experience Scale (ASEX)
SexFlex scale (SFS)
Sexual Excitation Scale-Short Form (SES-SF)
Statistical analyses included ANCOVA and repeated-measures ANOVA.

Study Findings:

Participant Demographics:
Predominantly white (62.9%), heterosexual (54.0%), and male (66.7%).
Included women (20.6%) and gender-diverse individuals (10.6%).
Important finding: 57.1% of participants reported first participating in NNN before adulthood (under 18), suggesting a considerable adolescent involvement.
Sexual Wellbeing:
No statistically significant differences in overall sexual wellbeing between NNN participants and non-participants at either time point.
NNN participants showed higher baseline sexual versatility (psychological flexibility regarding sexual matters) compared to non-participants.
Gender Differences (at T1):
Men reported significantly higher solitary sexual desire, lower sexual dysfunction, and higher sexual excitation than women/gender-diverse individuals.

The study found no cost or benefit to participants’ sexual wellbeing from the month-long abstinence of NNN.
These findings contradict strong claims made by both proponents and critics of NNN online. The study acknowledges limitations, including reliance on self-report data and a high attrition rate (74% of T1 participants did not complete T2). Despite limitations, the study provides crucial groundwork for future research on this trend.
The association between NNN participation and higher sexual flexibility was noted as an intriguing outcome.