The two major goals of this research are: (1) to describe the BDSM community including the first attraction to BDSM (or entry into the BDSM community), the negotiation that takes place between Dominant and Subordinate participants, norms or rules of participation in the community, and various BDSM activities; and, (2) to study the impact of BDSM activities on health and health lifestyle occasioned by strenuous activities, care of the partner and a deep trust and unique form of bonding in the interaction, reputed to be highly conducive to good health.; This study employed qualitative methodology in the form of 23 interviews of active members of the BDSM community with in-depth, open-ended questions and probes to more fully understand the structure of the community, the nature, extent, and nuance of the power differential in BDSM relationships, and the health promotion and health risk avoidance behaviors of the study participants. Structure of the Community findings emphasized “identity management" (strong desire to keep BDSM activities hidden from the outside world), the gravitas or commitment to the Community, and an emerging typology of participants as “Newcomers,” “Highly Experienced, and “Old Guard.” Differing degrees of negotiation were found: among young singles, the negotiation was minimal as compared to the Highly Experienced in which “hard limits,” desires and medical history were all involved. The findings for the impact of BDSM on health and health lifestyle were mixed. BDSM does benefit health but is also health wearing for some. For Relative Newcomers, there was only minimal interest in their partner’s health or health promotion behaviors, except for the usual respect for “hard limits” and the Safe, Sane, Consensual credo. For the Highly Experienced, such as those in long-term relationships, BDSM produced the expected deep trust, loving, and caring health consciousness and health promotion behaviors. But BDSM also produced health wearing with a unique constellation of injuries directly associated with some activities (e.g., rotator cuff injuries). Additionally, as older participants find that they are unable to safely participate in some BDSM activities, they remain integrated in the community through their involvement in educating newer members of the community.

BDSM Checklist - A printable scene or play negotiation checklist