Barbara Rothmüller

Sociologist and sexuality researcher

Dr. Barbara Rothmüller · Faculty of Psychology · Sigmund Freud Private University Vienna

Barbara Rothmüller is a sociologist based in Vienna. Her work examines sexuality, intimacy, gender, psychosocial health, social inequality and the social conditions under which people imagine and pursue alternative futures. She is a trained sex educator. For more than three years, she wrote a weekly sex column in Austrias largest daily newspaper.

Research profile

Her research combines critical social theory, empirical social research and psychosocial perspectives. A central focus lies on sexual and gender health, sexual fluidity, intimate relationships and the ways in which social inequalities shape possibilities for agency, care and self-understanding.

She has led mixed-method and participatory research projects on sexual health, social transformations during the COVID-19 pandemic, mental health, feminist counseling, education, and social inequality.

Fluid sexualities

Qualitative and life-course perspectives on sexual identity change, sexual biographies, desire, attraction, pleasure and intimate self-understanding.

Sexual and gender health

Research on sexuality, health, care, stigma, shame, minority stress and psychosocial resources.

Inequality and social change

Critical and participatory approaches to social inequality, crisis, psychosocial uncertainty and collective agency.

Current and recent projects

Fluid Sexualities: A Qualitative Longitudinal Study

Ongoing research project, 2023–2033

This long-term qualitative project investigates changes in sexuality over the life course. It follows sexual biographies across time and asks how people make sense of changes in attraction, desire, identities, relationships and sexual preferences in biographical and societal contexts.

Sexual and Gender Health

Interfaculty research programme, Sigmund Freud Private University Vienna, 2026

This mixed-method project conducts a survey study and group discussions on sexual and gender health. It examines how people experience sexual health and what forms of support they need in order to inform more accessible and inclusive health service provision.

Sexualities in Austria

Population-based survey project, 2022–2023

This project examined sexual satisfaction and pleasure, psychomedicalization of sex, sexting, and sexual fluidity among other topics. It was based on a nationwide survey of 3,000 people aged 14 to 75 in Austria.

Selected publications

  • Rothmüller, B., Struppe-Schanda, J., Šobot, I., & Ruck, N. (2026). “When Marginalized Women ‘Dare to Take a Step’: Envisioning a Good Life through Women’s Counseling and Feminist Participatory Action Research.” Women & Therapy.
  • Rothmüller, B. (2025). “Safer Sexting Strategies in Technology-Mediated Sexual Interactions: Findings from a National Study.” Sexuality Research and Social Policy.
  • Rothmüller, B. (2024). “Too much or not enough? Self-reported experiences of relational distress based on level of sexual desire.” Psychology & Sexuality.
  • Rothmüller, B. (2024). “Negative Health Classifications: Understanding Avoidance and Social Exclusion during a Pandemic.” Social Theory & Health, 22, 209–229.

For the full publication list, please see the German publication page.

Full publication list

Selected talks

  • “Understanding Sexual Fluidity: Sexual Biographies in Austria.” European Federation of Sexology, Lisbon, May 2026.
  • “Sexual Double Standards: The Pathologization of Female and Queer Desires.” Gender and Diversity Research Group, Musashi University Tokyo, November 2025.
  • “I feel lucky because I am not so restricted: Finding Joy in Sexual Fluidity.” Annual Meeting of the American Sociological Association, Montreal, August 2024.

Full list of talks

Selected media contributions

  • “Sex mit 40 plus – Freiheitsbooster oder Lustkiller?” 3sat Wissen, 8 January 2026.
  • “Safer Sexting – Risikoarme Erotik im Netz.” Ö1 Digital Leben, 12 May 2025.
  • "Viel und wenig sexuelle Lust: Betroffene leiden unter Druck von außen."APA Science, 6 November 2024.

Full media archive

Contact

For academic inquiries, research collaborations, lectures or media requests, please contact: