A new national survey into Australian sexual fetish behaviour has revealed that gays, lesbians and the “bi-interested” were the most likely group to partake in bondage and discipline practices. Well, surprise surprise.

Apparently 2% of Australian men and 1.4% of women said that they’ve enjoyed dominance, submission and sadomasochism-type sex in the past year. And while those numbers may seem small, researchers behind the survey say that they think more people have actually been dipping their toes (and other assorted body parts) in the BDSM waters without actually labelling it as such.

“There will definitely be more men and women who have sexual tastes in this direction but won’t call it this,” Dr Juliet Richters of the University of New South Wales told the Sydney Morning Herald.

“They might not like sex magazines but they just happen to like being tied up and spanked as part of foreplay. Ask them if they’re into BDSM they’ll say ‘Yuck, no’.”

In women BDSM is most common in girls under 20 years old, whereas with men they’re happy to take it at any age. More proof that the addage ‘women need a reason, and men just need a location’ is true. The good news is that men who partake in this sort of sexual gratification tend to be significantly happier than men who don’t.

“We’re not sure why,” Richters said. “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.”

Another earth shattering surprise – those men who said they were attracted to other men but who had never acted on their desire and who didn’t regard themselves as gay were among the most unhappy in the group.

At the end of the day the survey goes to prove that sexual exploration and the loss of inhibition is not only normal, it actually makes you a happier person.

What do you get up to in the bedroom? Have you been a naughty boy or girl? We wanna know what melts the Same Same butter. Have your say in the forums.