Study of psychosocial factors affecting premature ejaculation from the perspective of personality traits: a large sample cross-sectional study from Anhui, China.

BACKGROUND

Personality traits are the intrinsic factors of mental health, and may play a role in the pathogenesis of premature ejaculation (PE), but few studies have evaluated the association between personality traits and the 4 types of PE.

AIM: We aim to investigate the personality traits associated with PE in 4 types of PE and their associations with PE.

METHODS

Between February 2024 and February 2025, we conducted a survey in Anhui, China, and enrolled 1708 males. Personality traits were independently assessed by the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). The index of PE was used to evaluate ejaculation control, sexual life satisfaction, and distress caused by PE.

OUTCOMES: Energy-Introversion, Perceiving-Sensing, Judging-Feeling, and Orientation-Perception may influence men's sexual activity, and the Energy, Perceiving, and Orientation have different effects on the 4 types of PE.

RESULTS

The ISFP personality type is most common in those with PE. Among the 4 subtypes of PE, the Introversion-Intuition-Feeling-Perceiving (INFP) personality type is most common in those with Lifelong PE (LPE), the Extraversion-Sensing-Feeling-Judging (ESFJ) personality type is most common in those with Acquired PE (APE), the Introversion-Sensing-Feeling-Perceiving (ISFP) personality type is most common in those with Variable PE (VPE), and the Extraversion-Sensing-Feeling-Perceiving (ESFP) personality type is most common in those with Subjective PE (SPE).

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Personality trait factors may influence the pathogenesis of PE, and the use of the MBTI personality assessment provides a new perspective on how personality traits play a role in the onset of PE.

STRENGTHS & LIMITATIONS: It is necessary to conduct larger-scale, more rigorous community-based studies to further elucidate the role of personality traits in the development of PE.

CONCLUSION

Men with traits of Introversion, Sensing, Feeling, and Perception tend to have high sensitivity, introspection, and a deep pursuit of idealized relationships.