@drsarahashton: What can someone’s kink tell you about their psychology? A 2025 study compared BDSM practitioners and non-practitioners in a Spanish sample of 1,907 people. On average, practitioners scored higher on secure attachment, openness, conscientiousness and wellbeing, and lower on insecure attachment, rejection sensitivity and neuroticism. These are group averages, not a psychological profile for any one person. The study doesn’t show that kink causes these traits, or that everyone who enjoys kink shares them. A kink alone can’t tell us someone’s attachment style, mental health or personal history. To understand what a particular interest means, we need to explore it in the context of that person’s experiences, relationships and desires. Reference Lecuona, O., Martínez-Barajas, O., Gimeno-Martín, A., Hernansaiz, A., Carrillo-Molina, C., Alcolea-Cantero, R., Rodríguez-Carvajal, R., & de Rivas, S. (2025). Not Twisted, Just Kinky: Replication and Structural Invariance of Attachment, Personality, and Well-Being Among BDSM Practitioners. Journal of Homosexuality, 72(6), 1079–1108. https://doi.org/10.1080/00918369.2024.2364891 #SexualHealth #psychology #kinktok #research
Dr Sarah Ashton, PhD
Region: AU
Thursday 22 October 2026 23:53:49 GMT
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plate :
I have a kink for being treated with kindness and respect by an attractive man
2026-10-23 21:14:56
4750
Soul Kitty :
I have a praise kink. Probably because I have ADHD.
2026-10-23 13:34:13
1364
Jennifer💙 :
I have a submissive kink bc I grew up Gen X with absent parents, and became hyper independent. I had to take care of myself my whole life. My kink is having someone dominant take care of me. So it tracks.
2026-10-23 16:58:23
1582
𝔄𝔳𝔞𝔩𝔢𝔫𝔢 :
I have a praise kink, like bdsm and have a thing for feet 😔
2026-10-23 19:42:35
50
Oz | Like the Wizard :
Me listening to the very nice lady explain this topic.
2026-10-24 01:23:22
1008
🦤Lulatsch🦤 :
i have a cnc kink, probably cus I never had friends as a child and now feel the need to be needed and for someone to always want and need me, regardless of my feelings
2026-10-24 19:59:48
270
Papa Bear77 :
Many involved in kink/BDSM put a lot of energy into becoming educated about sex and relationships. Perhaps that is why the group studied scored well.
2026-10-23 10:47:10
690
daughterofthewater :
This is my favorite kind of research.
2026-10-23 22:59:55
427
Anne :
i love calling my man daddy and love bdsm involving daddy role. My dad died when I was 5 lol
2026-10-26 06:32:44
37
Feather 🪶 :
I have a kink for you shirt, can you drop the deets??
2026-10-23 21:22:54
66
earthsideeyes :
Idk. When I was mentally ill I was into bdsm to emotionally regulate. But I’m more healed and I’m vanilla now bc I don’t use seggs to emotionally regulate anymore
2026-10-24 12:40:37
259
Tanty :
This makes a lot of sense to me. You need a lot of trust for BSM etc
2026-10-23 15:53:41
51
BuffaloStance96 :
bS. So many other studies contradict this and say it’s trauma related
2026-10-23 16:45:29
75
🦋 :
My ex had lots of kinks including bdsm & he’s a neurotic insane person 😂
2026-10-31 22:39:23
1
sparkly menace on wheels👩🦽 :
when you're in the lifestyle and you actually do the work, it can heal you in so many ways.
2026-10-23 04:54:31
65
MistressLillie💕 :
I wonder if the misconception about mental health is due to kink being common in those that are used to being very honest about difficult topics and so aren’t likely to hide mental health difficulties when they do arise rather than hiding it
2026-10-24 02:38:22
49
geekdadlaser :
too many kinks to untangle this mess
2026-10-23 14:03:59
44
Nelezinha :
love this kind of research
2026-10-29 19:13:32
12
Tim :
I’d love to know where kinks start out; whether we are born with them and if not, what gives rise to them.
2026-11-03 13:30:09
5
Ashley :
Mine is daddy/praise kink. I don’t get a lot of praise in my regular life, so when he tells me that I’m doing a good job, and he knows I’m trying my best, it just warms my heart
2026-10-23 17:31:50
26
Filazafer :
And when a person likes to change kinks constantly it means they are ADHD. Explaining for a friend.
2026-10-23 22:00:08
26
Asa Leveaux | Icon Architect™️ :
My type of content
2026-10-24 16:25:09
6
Don.D :
what is kink
2026-10-23 01:33:38
5
Muscle After 30 :
What's your anecdotal experience though? For me, they're all been deeply traumatized.
2026-10-23 02:55:26
21
TBélle007 :
What does it mean to enjoy reading and thinking about kinks…but absolutely hating the idea of anyone touching you or physically following through with said kinks?
2026-10-24 00:57:55
13
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