Science on BDSM

[lucy]

Men into BDSM scored significantly better on a scale of psychological wellbeing than other men. (I really want to hear what Doms here have to say about this theory. And I wonder, does this apply to male subs too?)

BDSM’ers were no more likely to have suffered sexual difficulties, sexual abuse or coercion or anxiety than other Australians.

"This seems to imply that these men are actually happier as a result of their behaviour, though we're not sure why," says Dr. Juliet Richters of the University of New South Wales. “It might just be that they're more in harmony with themselves because they're into something unusual and are comfortable with that. There's a lot to be said for accepting who you are.”

There's another possible explanation: Maybe they are not generally happier than the rest of the population, but the rest of the population (or a significant part of it) is unhappier because they're BDSMers too but are suppressing that part of their personality, thus being miserable...

And what about women? Are they happier too?

GENDER (Now this surprised me, because I always thought that there were more women into bdsm than men.)
Men 51%
Women 46%
Transgender 1%
Intersexual 2%

Maybe it's just that women are more "outgoing", at least on the internet.