Institute of Clinical Sexology, Rome, Italy.
Institute of Clinical Sexology, Rome, Italy; Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
J Sex Med. 2019 Mar;16(3):463-473. doi: 10.1016/j.jsxm.2019.01.001. Epub 2019 Feb 14.
Published studies show good psychological health of people involved in bondage-discipline, dominance-submission, and sadism-masochism (BDSM) activities; nevertheless, there are few studies on characteristics related to gender, role in the BDSM scene, sexual functioning, and satisfaction among BDSM practitioners.
The aim of this study was to explore gender and role differences, prevalence of sexual complaints, related distress, and sexual satisfaction in BDSM participants compared with the general population.
A group of 266 Italian consensual BDSM participants (141 men and 125 women) were recruited with a snowball sampling technique. An anonymous protocol, including self-reported ad hoc and validated questionnaires, was used. The control group was composed of 100 men and 100 women who were not significantly different from the BDSM group for the sociodemographic data and were randomly extracted from an Italian database on sexual functioning of the general population.
Self-reported demographic factors, including favorite and most frequent BDSM practices, the Sexual Complaint Screener, and the Sexual Satisfaction Scale, were completed by the participants.
The mean age of the BDSM group was 41.42 ± 9.61 years old (range 18-74). Data showed a varied outlook of practices, fantasies, rules, and roles. With regard to concerns about BDSM activities (fantasies and behaviors), participants reported a very low self-declared degree of distress. The dominant and switch groups appear to be more satisfied and less concerned about sexuality than the general population and the submissive group. Role in the BDSM scene was the only significant predictor of sexual satisfaction, showing a medium effect size.
Results from this study could be helpful to inform sexual health care professionals and to reduce the stigma related to the BDSM population.
STRENGTHS & LIMITATIONS: In general, this study may help to describe better some characteristics related to gender, role, sexual preferences, function, and satisfaction. The main limitation regards the sampling method, which does not allow us to consider the group as representative of BDSM participants in general.
Data showed a varied outlook of practices, fantasies, rules, and roles in both BDSM men and women. BDSM participants (especially dominant and switch groups) appear to be more satisfied and less concerned about sexuality than the general population. This is an attempt to increase the attention of researchers and health care professionals to this important topic and to improve the care provided to people with specific preferences and behaviors. Botta D, Nimbi FM, Tripodi F, et al. Are Role and Gender Related to Sexual Function and Satisfaction in Men and Women Practicing BDSM? J Sex Med 2019;16:463-473.
已发表的研究表明，从事绑缚调教、支配臣服、施虐受虐（BDSM）活动的人群心理状况良好；然而，关于 BDSM 人群的性别、角色、性功能和性满意度相关特征的研究却很少。
本研究旨在探讨 BDSM 参与者与普通人群相比，在性别和角色差异、性抱怨的发生率、相关困扰和性满意度方面的差异。
采用雪球抽样技术招募了 266 名意大利自愿参与 BDSM 的参与者（141 名男性和 125 名女性）。参与者填写了匿名的自填式专用问卷和已验证的问卷。对照组由 100 名男性和 100 名女性组成，他们在人口统计学数据方面与 BDSM 组无显著差异，是从意大利普通人群性功能数据库中随机抽取的。
参与者完成了自我报告的人口统计学因素，包括最喜欢和最常进行的 BDSM 行为、性抱怨筛查器和性满意度量表。
BDSM 组的平均年龄为 41.42±9.61 岁（18-74 岁）。数据显示了不同的行为、幻想、规则和角色。关于 BDSM 活动（幻想和行为）的担忧，参与者自我报告的困扰程度非常低。与普通人群和服从组相比，支配者和转换者群体的性满意度更高，对性的担忧更少。BDSM 角色是唯一显著预测性满意度的因素，表现出中等的效应大小。
本研究结果可能有助于为性健康护理专业人员提供信息，并减少与 BDSM 人群相关的污名。
一般来说，本研究可以更好地描述性别、角色、性偏好、功能和满意度方面的一些特征。主要的局限性在于抽样方法，这使得我们不能将该群体视为一般 BDSM 参与者的代表。
数据显示 BDSM 男性和女性在行为、幻想、规则和角色方面都有不同的看法。与普通人群相比，BDSM 参与者（尤其是支配者和转换者群体）的性满意度更高，对性的担忧更少。这是试图引起研究人员和医疗保健专业人员对这一重要话题的关注，并改善对具有特定偏好和行为的人群的护理。
