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Psychological characteristics of BDSM practitioners
Andreas A J Wismeijer1, Marcel A L M van Assen
1Department of Clinical Psychology, Tilburg University, Tilburg, The Netherlands. andreas.wismeijer@icloud.com
The Journal of Sexual Medicine
|May 18, 2013
Summary
BDSM practitioners exhibit better psychological health than controls, showing lower neuroticism and rejection sensitivity. This suggests BDSM is a leisure activity, not a sign of psychopathology.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Human Sexuality
- Mental Health
Background:
- Historically, BDSM practice was linked to psychopathology.
- Recent research indicates BDSM practitioners often display good psychological health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare psychological characteristics between BDSM practitioners and a control group.
- To investigate personality traits, attachment styles, rejection sensitivity, and well-being in BDSM participants.
Main Methods:
- Online questionnaires administered to 902 BDSM practitioners and 434 controls.
- Utilized Big Five personality dimensions, attachment styles, rejection sensitivity, and well-being measures.
- Statistical analyses included chi-squared tests, correlation, and analysis of covariance.
Main Results:
- BDSM practitioners showed lower neuroticism, higher extraversion, openness, and conscientiousness.
- Practitioners reported lower rejection sensitivity and higher subjective well-being.
- Dominant BDSM practitioners generally scored more favorably than submissive practitioners and controls.
Conclusions:
- BDSM engagement is associated with favorable psychological characteristics.
- Findings support viewing BDSM as a recreational leisure activity.
- Results challenge the notion of BDSM as an expression of psychopathology.
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