Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: BDSM is an acronym for bondage-discipline, dominance-submission, and sadism-masochism. Attachment styles seem to impact sexual interest. The aims of the current study were to (1) evaluate differences between BDSM participants and controls in insecure attachment styles; (2) examine associations between insecure attachment styles on BDSM fantasies and BDSM practice and (3) explore associations between insecure attachment styles and levels of BDSM fantasies and practices per BDSM identity group. A survey was conducted in BDSM-oriented individuals and non-BDSM-oriented controls, with the Experience in Close Relationships (ECR) asessing insecure attachment styles. Multivariate GLM analyses were used to compare the ECR scores between BDSM oriented individuals (N = 263) and controls (N = 300). Linear Mixed Models analyses were performed to evaluate the impact of insecure attachment styles and sociodemographic variables on BDSM fantasies and practices in the total BDSM group. Exploratory correlation analyses were performed to evaluate the associations between ECR and BDSM scores in BDSM-identity groups. BDSM participants had lower levels of avoidant and anxious attachment styles. BDSM fantasy scores were correlated to attachment styles, whereas BDSM practice was inversely correlated with insecure attachment styles. These results suggest that lower levels of insecure attachment are related to the tendency to put BDSM fantasies into practice.
Source: Psychology and Sexuality
Institutions: University of Antwerp, Antwerp University Hospital, KU Leuven
Language: English
Subfield: Sociology and Political Science
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W4411919894