Attachment, Emotion Regulation, and Gender Role Issues in BDSM Relationships: An Exploratory Analysis

Abstract

BDSM (Bondage/Discipline, Dominance/Submission, Sadism/Masochism) has become more widely known as a common, nonpathological interest (Holvoet et al., 2017; Powell, 2010). However, there is still much stigma associated with romantic relationships within the BDSM community, the most deviant of which may be the 24/7 Dominant/submissive (D/s) relationship in which a Dominant partner is permanently in control of a submissive partner (Dancer, Kleinplatz, & Moser, 2006). The current study investigated different types of issues that may arise given the 24/7 D/s dynamic in order to better understand romantic relationships involving BDSM and the. Participants involved in 24/7 D/s relationships, other relationships involving BDSM, and relationships that do not incorporate BDSM were included and compared in this study. It was found that 24/7 relationships did contain significantly less equity than other types of relationships, and that people in other forms of BDSM relationships had the least amount of traditional gender role beliefs. Overall, the current study is one of the few to incorporate quantitative data regarding this population, and provides further information regarding the different types of relationships in the BDSM community.