(077) EXPLORING BONDAGE-RELATED INJURY RISKS: A FIRST LOOK AT PREVALENCE AND PATTERNS

Abstract Introduction Little is known about the potential injury risks specific to kink bondage. Previous research (Sprott & Randall, 2021) found that 13.5% of kink-involved people reported an injury at least once in their lifetime, though the proportion of those injuries directly related to bondage is unknown. Estimates on bondage participation vary widely, from 21% (Herbenick et al., 2017) to 87% (Rehor, 2015). While Khodulev et al. (2023) noted the prevalence and impact of nerve injuries among bondage participants, other injury types remain understudied. Objective This study aimed to address gaps in research on bondage-related injuries to clarify the associated risks and inform healthcare providers on the injury characteristics they may encounter in bondage-involved patients. Methods We conducted an analysis on existing data from two cross-sectional surveys (N = 1398, N = 327) on kink and health topics to examine the rates and characteristics of injuries in kink bondage. We identified injuries that were directly related to bondage and built a logistic regression model to evaluate the effects of age, sex assigned at birth, and bondage type (short-term, long-term, or suspension) on bondage-related injuries. We also used qualitative analysis to identify common injury characteristics and symptomatology. Results Across our samples, 76–78% of participants reported having experienced bondage, with 54–62% reporting having practiced bondage with others. Among participants who had bondage done to them, 3–7% reported experiencing a bondage-related injury. Having engaged in suspension bondage specifically was associated with a significantly higher risk of injury in both datasets, suggesting it is a uniquely high-risk form. Around one-third of bondage-related injuries involved nerve damage symptoms. Conclusions This study provides insight into the frequency and nature of bondage-related injuries, contributing to a deeper understanding of these injuries. Such information is crucial for healthcare providers to deliver more tailored care to bondage-involved individuals. Additionally, these findings allow individuals to make informed decisions regarding bondage participation. Given the high rates of reported bondage involvement, it is likely that healthcare providers already encounter bondage-involved patients and may see related injuries, potentially without recognizing them. Furthering understanding of the nuances of these injuries will equip healthcare providers to deliver more effective, informed care to bondage-involved individuals. Disclosure No.