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A Survey of the United Kink-dom: Investigating Five Paraphilic Interest Groups and Their Demographic and Psychological Correlates.

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Title: A Survey of the United Kink-dom: Investigating Five Paraphilic Interest Groups and Their Demographic and Psychological Correlates.
Authors: Brown, Ashley (AUTHOR), Barker, Edward D. (AUTHOR), Friedrich, Stella (AUTHOR), Rahman, Qazi (AUTHOR)
Source: Journal of Sex Research. Mar/Apr2026, Vol. 63 Issue 3, p412-430. 19p.
Subjects: Paraphilias, Sociodemographic factors, Cognition, BDSM
Geographic Terms: United Kingdom
Abstract: We explored demographic, psychological, and behavioral characteristics of five paraphilic interest groups in the UK: BDSM, pet play, age play/ABDL, furries, and balloon fetishists – chosen for their prevalence, power dynamics, and varied activities. Through an anonymous survey (N = 470), we assessed role identities, engagement patterns, and relational dynamics. Groups were more likely to have non-heterosexual, non-monogamous, and non-cisgender identities, with high levels of co-occurrence across paraphilic interests. Participants were predominantly cisgender men, though over 25% identified as non-cisgender. Men were more likely to take on dominant roles, women submissive roles, and nonbinary people switch roles. There were differences in Dark Triad traits based on role identity. A minority of participants did not pair their interests with sex, especially pet players and furries. Bimodal distributions in the centrality of paraphilic interests to sexual identity underscore implications for sub-group classification and add to discourse of paraphilias as a dimension of sexual orientation. Relationship satisfaction correlated with shared paraphilic interests. Some associations were found between age play and pedophilic fantasies and behaviors and pet play/furries and zoophilic fantasies and behaviors, but this was only for a small minority. This work expands on existing literature by contextualizing findings within broader societal and relational frameworks and addressing stigmatized stereotypes. Recommendations include longitudinal and cross-cultural studies to explore the evolution of paraphilic interests and their intersection with psychosocial variables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Journal of Sex Research is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
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  Data: A Survey of the United Kink-dom: Investigating Five Paraphilic Interest Groups and Their Demographic and Psychological Correlates.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Journal+of+Sex+Research%22">Journal of Sex Research</searchLink>. Mar/Apr2026, Vol. 63 Issue 3, p412-430. 19p.
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  Data: We explored demographic, psychological, and behavioral characteristics of five paraphilic interest groups in the UK: BDSM, pet play, age play/ABDL, furries, and balloon fetishists – chosen for their prevalence, power dynamics, and varied activities. Through an anonymous survey (N = 470), we assessed role identities, engagement patterns, and relational dynamics. Groups were more likely to have non-heterosexual, non-monogamous, and non-cisgender identities, with high levels of co-occurrence across paraphilic interests. Participants were predominantly cisgender men, though over 25% identified as non-cisgender. Men were more likely to take on dominant roles, women submissive roles, and nonbinary people switch roles. There were differences in Dark Triad traits based on role identity. A minority of participants did not pair their interests with sex, especially pet players and furries. Bimodal distributions in the centrality of paraphilic interests to sexual identity underscore implications for sub-group classification and add to discourse of paraphilias as a dimension of sexual orientation. Relationship satisfaction correlated with shared paraphilic interests. Some associations were found between age play and pedophilic fantasies and behaviors and pet play/furries and zoophilic fantasies and behaviors, but this was only for a small minority. This work expands on existing literature by contextualizing findings within broader societal and relational frameworks and addressing stigmatized stereotypes. Recommendations include longitudinal and cross-cultural studies to explore the evolution of paraphilic interests and their intersection with psychosocial variables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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  Data: <i>Copyright of Journal of Sex Research is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=pbh&AN=192312980
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        Value: 10.1080/00224499.2025.2486472
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              Text: Mar/Apr2026
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