A1 Journal article (refereed)
The Prevalence of BDSM in Finland and the Association between BDSM Interest and Personality Traits (2023)

Paarnio, M., Sandman, N., Källström, M., Johansson, A., & Jern, P. (2023). The Prevalence of BDSM in Finland and the Association between BDSM Interest and Personality Traits. Journal of Sex Research, 60(4), 443-451. https://doi.org/10.1080/00224499.2021.2015745

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Paarnio, Markus; Sandman, Nils; Källström, Marianne; Johansson, Ada; Jern, Patrick

Journal or series: Journal of Sex Research

ISSN: 0022-4499

eISSN: 1559-8519

Publication year: 2023

Publication date: 07/01/2022

Volume: 60

Issue number: 4

Pages range: 443-451

Publisher: Routledge

Publication country: United States

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00224499.2021.2015745

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Partially open access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/79311

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.

Keywords: sexual behaviour; BDSM; personality traits

Contributing organizations

Ministry reporting: Yes

Reporting Year: 2022

JUFO rating: 2