The prevalence of BDSM interest and practice in Finland, and the association between BDSM interest and personality characteristics

Abstract

According to previous research interest in BDSM (Bondage-Discipline, Dominance-Submission and Sadomasochism) activities is quite high in several European countries and various BDSM practices are also common. The prevalence of certain BDSM activities has been found as high as 47% in the general population and 69% have had fantasies about BDSM-related activities. The prevalence varies with questionnaire items used. There is not much research on the personalities of BDSM practitioners or those who are interested in BDSM, but there is evidence that practitioners often have better well-being and they are more highly educated than the general population. The current study explored the prevalence of BDSM interest and practice in a Finnish population based sample, and other BDSM related questions, and investigated the association between BDSM interest and personality measured with six factor HEXACO personality measure. The sample had a total of 8,137 individuals and the participants answered a survey consisting of several tens of different questionnaires including the BDSM-related and the HEXACO personality measures. A total of 38% of the sample was interested in BDSM sex and non-heterosexual individuals displayed at most almost twice as much interest and at most 83% more participation in BDSM than heterosexual individuals. Younger participants (18-28 years old) displayed almost thrice as much interest than older participants, but this interest did not realize into higher practice rates. In this sample people who were interest in BDSM did not differ on any of the HEXACO personality factors from those who were not interested. These findings suggest that interest in BDSM is fairly common and the personalities of those who display interest in BDSM are similar to those who do not.