The Prevalence of BDSM in Finland and the Association between BDSM Interest and Personality Traits

ABSTRACT According to previous research, interest in BDSM (Bondage-Discipline, Dominance-Submission and Sadomasochism) activities is high in several European countries and various BDSM practices are not uncommon. There is a limited amount of research on the personalities of BDSM practitioners, but in previous research practitioners have been found to have better overall well-being and to be more educated than the general population. The current study explored the prevalence of BDSM interest and practice in a Finnish sample (n = 8,137, age range 18–60, M = 30.14, SD = 8.08) and investigated the association between BDSM interest and personality measured with the six-factor personality measure HEXACO. A total of 38% of the sample was interested in BDSM sex and non-heterosexual individuals displayed almost twice as much interest and at most 83% more participation in BDSM than heterosexual individuals. Younger participants (18–28 years old) displayed almost three times as much interest than older participants. There were some associations between BDSM interest and personality factors, but the effect sizes of these associations were modest. The study shows that BDSM interest is quite common among the Finnish population.

[1]  J. Tybur,et al.  Genetic and Environmental Influences on Disgust Proneness, Contamination Sensitivity, and Their Covariance , 2020, Clinical Psychological Science.

[2]  V. Coppens,et al.  A Survey on BDSM-related Activities: BDSM Experience Correlates with Age of First Exposure, Interest Profile, and Role Identity , 2020, Journal of sex research.

[3]  Q. Rahman,et al.  A Systematic Scoping Review of the Prevalence, Etiological, Psychological, and Interpersonal Factors Associated with BDSM , 2019, Journal of sex research.

[4]  V. Coppens,et al.  Bondage-Discipline, Dominance-Submission and Sadomasochism (BDSM) From an Integrative Biopsychosocial Perspective: A Systematic Review , 2019, Sexual medicine.

[5]  F. Tripodi,et al.  Are Role and Gender Related to Sexual Function and Satisfaction in Men and Women Practicing BDSM? , 2019, The journal of sexual medicine.

[6]  Jeromy Anglim,et al.  Measurement and research using the Big Five, HEXACO, and narrow traits: A primer for researchers and practitioners , 2019, Australian Journal of Psychology.

[7]  C. Moser.  DSM-5, Paraphilias, and the Paraphilic Disorders: Confusion Reigns , 2019, Archives of Sexual Behavior.

[8]  Sean M. Mitchell,et al.  Suicide Risk Among BDSM Practitioners: The Role of Acquired Capability for Suicide. , 2017, Journal of clinical psychology.

[9]  V. Coppens,et al.  Fifty Shades of Belgian Gray: The Prevalence of BDSM-Related Fantasies and Activities in the General Population. , 2017, The journal of sexual medicine.

[10]  S. Sanders,et al.  Sexual diversity in the United States: Results from a nationally representative probability sample of adult women and men , 2017, PloS one.

[11]  E. Vilain,et al.  Sexual Orientation, Controversy, and Science , 2016, Psychological science in the public interest : a journal of the American Psychological Society.

[12]  R. Henriques,et al.  Sexual satisfaction and distress in sexual functioning in a sample of the BDSM community: a comparison study between BDSM and non-BDSM contexts. , 2015, The journal of sexual medicine.

[13]  Paul Badcock,et al.  Masturbation, paying for sex, and other sexual activities: the Second Australian Study of Health and Relationships. , 2014, Sexual health.

[14]  Ali Hébert,et al.  An examination of personality characteristics associated with BDSM orientations , 2014 .

[15]  P. Jern,et al.  Finnish Women and Men Who Self-Report No Sexual Attraction in the Past 12 Months: Prevalence, Relationship Status, and Sexual Behavior History , 2014, Archives of sexual behavior.

[16]  M. V. van Assen,et al.  Psychological characteristics of BDSM practitioners. , 2013, The journal of sexual medicine.

[17]  Paul L. Vasey,et al.  A Billion Wicked Thoughts: What the Internet Tells Us About Sexual Relationships , 2013 .

[18]  J. C. Barnes,et al.  A Demonstration of the Generalizability of Twin-based Research on Antisocial Behavior , 2013, Behavior genetics.

[19]  P. Adriaens,et al.  Pathologizing Sexual Deviance: A History , 2013, Journal of sex research.

[20]  Antonio Chirumbolo,et al.  Personality and politics: The role of the HEXACO model of personality in predicting ideology and voting , 2010 .

[21]  Megan R. Yost.  Development and Validation of the Attitudes about Sadomasochism Scale , 2010, Journal of sex research.

[22]  Gerard Saucier,et al.  Recurrent personality dimensions in inclusive lexical studies: indications for a big six structure. , 2009, Journal of personality.

[23]  J. Parsons,et al.  Behind Closed Doors: An Exploration of Kinky Sexual Behaviors in Urban Lesbian and Bisexual Women , 2009, Journal of sex research.

[24]  C. Moser.  When Is an Unusual Sexual Interest a Mental Disorder? , 2009, Archives of sexual behavior.

[25]  M. Ashton,et al.  The HEXACO personality factors in the indigenous personality lexicons of English and 11 other languages. , 2008, Journal of personality.

[26]  Juliet Richters,et al.  Demographic and psychosocial features of participants in bondage and discipline, "sadomasochism" or dominance and submission (BDSM): data from a national survey. , 2008, The journal of sexual medicine.

[27]  Patrick D. Dunlop,et al.  Predicting integrity with the HEXACO personality model: Use of self- and observer reports , 2008 .

[28]  M. Ashton,et al.  Big Five and HEXACO model personality correlates of sexuality , 2007 .

[29]  R. Tourangeau,et al.  Sensitive questions in surveys. , 2007, Psychological bulletin.

[30]  R. Lippa.  The Relation Between Sex Drive and Sexual Attraction to Men and Women: A Cross-National Study of Heterosexual, Bisexual, and Homosexual Men and Women , 2007, Archives of sexual behavior.

[31]  C. Moser,et al.  DSM-IV-TR and the Paraphilias , 2006 .

[32]  M. Ashton,et al.  Psychometric Properties of the HEXACO Personality Inventory , 2004, Multivariate behavioral research.

[33]  J. Bailey,et al.  Sexual behaviour of lesbians and bisexual women , 2003, Sexually transmitted infections.

[34]  C. Rissel,et al.  Sex in Australia: Autoerotic, esoteric and other sexual practices engaged in by a representative sample of adults , 2003, Australian and New Zealand journal of public health.

[35]  E. Byers,et al.  Exploring the Frequency, Diversity, and Content of University Students' Positive and Negative Sexual Cognitions , 1999 .