What are you looking for today?

Wignall, L, McCormack, M, Carpino, T, Owens, R and Barton, T (2024) The Kink Orientation Scale: Developing and Validating a Measure of Kink Desire, Practice, and Identity. The Kink Orientation Scale: Developing and Validating a Measure of Kink Desire, Practice, and Identity. ISSN 1559-8519

Document

Abstract

Abstract

Kink, often referred to as BDSM, is an important aspect of a sizable minority’s sexual desires, practices, and personal relationships, yet there are few ways to assess kink engagement in a holistic manner. This study aimed to develop the Kink Orientation Scale (KOS), a novel short tool for measuring different aspects of kink sexuality. In phase one, 27 items were created and included in the initial scale based on a literature review and focus groups with kinky and non-kinky individuals. In phase two, the KOS was administered to 200 university students. Exploratory Factor Analyses (EFA) were used to determine the factor structure and dimensionality of the KOS, and we retained 18 items in the scale and identified five factors. In phase three, the 18 item KOS was administered to a kink sample of 1025 participants as a form of validation. Confirmatory Factor Analyses also identified five factors with a strong overlap to the EFA. The five factors were: kink identity; kink community; kink paraphernalia; kink practices; and sexual communication. The kink sample also provided higher scores on the KOS compared with the non-kink sample. This study shows the potential utility of the KOS in measuring kink engagement holistically.

Item Type: Article
Depositing User: Rebecca Owens
URI: https://sure.sunderland.ac.uk/id/eprint/18006

Further Details

More Information

Depositing User

Identifiers

Item ID
18006
Identification Number
ISSN
1559-8519

Users with ORCIDS

ORCID for L Wignall
ORCID for M McCormack
ORCID for T Carpino
ORCID for R Owens
ORCID for T Barton

Catalogue record

Date Deposited
09 Sep 2024 14:12
Last Modified
26 Nov 2025 09:09

Contributors

Author
Author
Author
Author
Author
Author
L Wignall
Author
M McCormack
Author
M Carpino
Author
R Owens
Author
T Barton

University Divisions

Subjects

Actions (login required)

View Item (Repository Staff Only)

Downloads per month over past year