Give Me More, and More Variety: Sexual Satisfaction Among BDSM and Kink Practitioners in Chile

Previous research has shown a positive association between BDSM/kink behaviors and sexual satisfaction. The present study further explored this relationship within a Chilean population of BDSM practitioners. A total of 543 participants responded to an online questionnaire about BDSM/kink roles, practices, and overall sexual satisfaction. The main regression analyses evaluated the associations between BDSM roles, the frequency and variety of BDSM/kink interests and behaviors and the degree of discordance between the BDSM/kink behaviors participants find arousing and those that they have engaged in, as well as the contributions of the socio-demographic factors such as gender, age, sexual orientation, educational level, and relationship status on sexual satisfaction levels. The results indicated that the frequency and diversity of BDSM and kink activities were linked with higher sexual satisfaction. While no significant differences were found in sexual satisfaction across dominant, submissive, and switch roles, individuals in both monogamous and non-monogamous relationships reported higher satisfaction levels in comparison to those not in a relationship. These results emphasize the importance of respecting and de-pathologizing "non-conventional" forms of sexuality, such as BDSM. Future research should focus on the long-term psychological and relational effects of BDSM participation and aim to include more diverse and representative samples.