Exploring the prevalence and characteristics of self-labelled identity, coping, and mental health among BDSM-practicing adults in the United States

ABSTRACT

This paper aimed to explore BDSM involvement and its effects on mental health. The study had four objectives: (1) quantify frequencies of BDSM self-labels, (2) describe patterns of BDSM involvement subtypes (i.e. fantasy, behaviour, and identity), (3) compare BDSM-related involvement among two samples: members of the National Coalition for Sexual Freedom (NCSF) and a non-NCSF sample of adults interested in or practicing BDSM, and (4) understand whether BDSM identity specialty interest group membership is associated with enhanced health (i.e. coping). Data were drawn from archival survey data on sexuality and health. Participants (N = 1036) completed BDSM identity and behaviour measures. The most common BDSM identities were ‘dominant’ and ‘submissive’. NCSF members adopted BDSM identity labels more frequently compared to general adult BDSM practitioners. Dominant and submissive fantasy and behaviour varied by gender, sexual orientation, and relationship status. For example, cisgender men reported elevated patterns of dominant and lowered submissive BDSM involvement. Compared to non-NCSF members, NCSF members reported higher dominant and submissive fantasies and behaviours, and better mental health and emotion regulation. Finally, submissive fantasy involvement displayed statistically significant, but weak, positive associations with psychological health. Potential implications for public health practice, theory development, and future research are discussed.  

KEYWORDS:

• BDSM
• Identity
• Gender
• Emotion regulation
• Mental health

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1. We conducted power analyses via G*Power 3.1 for several types of analyses frequently employed throughout the results in order to ensure necessary power. A series of chi-square power analyses were run using the following parameters: small and moderate effect sizes, α = .05, power=.80, df = 1; results showed a necessary sample size range between 88 and 785 to detect possible effects. We also conducted Pearson r based power analyses using the following parameters; assumed small to moderate correlation, α = .05, power=.80, and a zero correlation under the null.; results showed a sample size range between 30 and 194 necessary to detect possible effects. Analysis of variance (ANOVA)-based power analyses were run with the following parameters: small and moderate effect size, α = .05, power=.80, and number of groups varied between four and seven; results showed a range between 180–231 participants needed to detect moderate effect size, while a sample size between 1096–1372 may be needed to detect small effects. Otherwise, SPSS v. 27 was used for all analyses.

2. Gender, race, sexual orientation, and romantic relationship status all needed to be recoded due to small subgroup counts for examination of variation in BDSM involvement. Specifically, gender was reclassified as cisgender men, cisgender women, transgender people, and other gender minority. Race was recategorised as White, Black, Asian, Hispanic, Multiracial, and Other racial minority. Sexual orientation was recoded as straight, lesbian/gay, bisexual, no label, pansexual, queer, and other sexual minority. Relationship status was recoded as single, casual dating, in a relationship, married/monogamous long-term commitment, polyamorous, open marriage, and other relationship configuration.

3. For the sake of space we focus only on significant BDSM-related findings. Full model multivariate tests are contained in the online supplement. Full model univariate effects are available upon request from the corresponding author.

Additional information

Funding

No funding was obtained for this study.