Predictors of kink community involvement in those interested in sadism and/or masochism

Sexual sadism (sexual arousal from controlling or causing physical pain, suffering, or humiliation) and sexual masochism (sexual arousal from being controlled or experiencing physical pain, suffering, or humiliation) are part of a spectrum of relatively common sexual interests labelled BDSM. Many people with sadistic or masochistic interests experience stigmatization related to their interests. Those interested in sadism or masochism may seek out community as a means of learning more about their interests, to engage in behaviours related to their interests with others, or to combat potential distress related to their stigmatized BDSM interests. Currently, little is known about predictors of kink community involvement. Using data from an online convenience survey sample of 743 respondents, the current study examined if interest in sadism or masochism, concomitant behaviour, and distress related to sadism and masochism interest predicted kink community involvement. Among those interested in sadism and masochism, the odds of kink community involvement were significantly greater if they engaged in more frequent sadism (OR = 1.64) or masochism (OR = 1.71). Greater interest in masochism predicted significantly greater odds of kink community involvement (OR = 1.67), but this was not true for interest in sadism. Those interested in sadism had greater odds of kink community involvement if they experienced higher levels of distress related to sadism interest (OR = 1.42); masochism-related distress was not a significant predictor. These findings highlight the importance of interest, behaviour, and distress in understanding kink community involvement and underscore the need for further research into how gender, sexual identity, and psychosocial factors shape engagement within stigmatized sexual minorities.