“The Invisible Gate”: Experiences of Well-Being in the Context of Kink Sexuality

Past research has examined the incidence of psychological distress and mental disorders among people who practice alternative sexualities known as “kink” or BDSM, but there are very few studies of the positive impact of kink sexuality on psychological well-being. A total of 1,402 individuals participated in the 2016 National Kink Health Survey; 1,003 participants were included in the analysis presented here. Participants were included if they answered the survey question: (a) Do you feel that your involvement in kink has affected your mental health, either positively or negatively? Two other follow-up questions were asked: (b) If yes, has that effect been positive or negative or both?; (c) Please comment, if you would like, to expand on your experiences related to the last question. Results indicated that 66% of the 1,003 participants found that kink sexuality had a positive impact on their mental health, and qualitative analyses found that the impact focused on four areas of well-being: autonomy, positive relations with others, personal growth, and self-acceptance. Negative impacts were also noted, mostly in the area of difficult/negative relations with others that included stigma/prejudice, interest discrepancies within intimate relationships, and poor treatment or abuse from intimate partners. This research indicates that participation in kink sexuality can be a source of personal growth and healing, at least for some individuals.