Survey: Nearly a Million Czechs Struggle with Problematic Sexual Behaviors

A new survey has revealed that 9% of the Czech population experiences at least one form of sexual deviation, commonly known as paraphilia.

This study, conducted after a decade, sheds light on the state of sexual health in the Czech Republic.

Approximately 30% of people with paraphilic preferences could benefit from professional intervention.

However, only 6.9% of affected individuals seek help, according to Kateřina Klapilová, head of the Center for Sexual Health and Interventions at the National Institute of Mental Health.

“It’s important to note that having a paraphilic preference does not equate to committing a crime,” Klapilová emphasizes. This distinction helps combat stigma, particularly the misconception that pedophiles or other paraphilic individuals are inherently violent.

Sexual Deviations in Numbers

Preliminary data from the CZECHSEX survey, the first nationwide research of its kind in ten years, highlights that approximately 930,000 people in the Czech Republic live with some form of sexual deviation. Men are disproportionately affected, with 11.3% of men experiencing paraphilic disorders compared to 6.4% of women.

The most common forms include:

• Biastophilia (4.5%): A preference for acts involving rape or immobilization.
• Frotteurism (3%): Unconsented touching or rubbing against strangers in public spaces.
• Non-consensual sadomasochism (2.7%): Involving pain or humiliation without mutual agreement.

Other noted deviations include pedophilia, exhibitionism, and hebephilia (focused on teenage girls).

Despite the alarming numbers, most individuals with paraphilic preferences do not commit crimes. Only 7.1% of those with these preferences have committed acts of sexual violence, according to the survey. Interestingly, people without any paraphilic tendencies are more likely to report having committed sexual violence.