Childhood Sexual Abuse, Adult Attachment Styles, and Involvement in BDSM Practices in Adult Intimate Relationships

TL;DR

The study explores how childhood sexual abuse influences adult attachment styles and participation in BDSM practices, finding complex relationships between trauma, behavior, and attachment.

Contribution

The study introduces a model linking childhood sexual abuse to adult BDSM practices and attachment styles, revealing nuanced psychological connections.

Findings

Childhood sexual abuse is positively linked to submissiveness and negatively to dominance in BDSM practices.

Fearful and preoccupied attachment styles are associated with childhood sexual abuse, but not dismissive attachment.

Men and older individuals show higher levels of submissiveness and dominance in BDSM compared to women and younger individuals.

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the role of childhood sexual abuse in attachment styles and involvement in BDSM (bondage, discipline, dominance, submission, and sadomasochism) practices in adult intimate relationships. A model was built to test the predictive value of factors for involvement in BDSM practices. This study included 318 participants. Demographic data were collected and three questionnaires were used: the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) identified past sexual abuse, the Adult Attachment Scale (RSQ) assessed attachment style in adulthood, and the Sadomasochism Checklist (SMCL) assessed interest in masochistic practices. The results show that childhood sexual abuse is associated with practicing and enjoying BDSM, positively with submissiveness, negatively with dominance, and positively with a composite score measuring both submissiveness and dominance. It is also linked to fearful and preoccupied attachment styles in adulthood, but not dismissive attachment. Men exhibit higher levels of submissiveness and dominance in BDSM compared to women. Older individuals are more inclined to engage in BDSM. Urban residents show higher involvement in BDSM compared to those in other environments. Homosexual or bisexual individuals in open relationships are more frequently involved in BDSM. These findings highlight the complexity of connections between past experiences, sexual preferences in BDSM, and secure attachment in intimate relationships.

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