A recent study has found that sexual compliance is prevalent in relationships. Factors such as relationship type, age, education, and partner power dynamics influence the likelihood of sexual compliance, which can lead to both positive and negative consequences for individuals. The research was published in The Journal of Sex Research.
Sexual compliance refers to consenting to sexual activity even when one might not fully desire it. It’s a topic that has garnered increasing attention in recent years as researchers and society at large seek to better understand the nuances of consent and sexual dynamics in relationships.
Prior research has suggested that sexual compliance is not uncommon, but this new study, conducted in Finland, aimed to provide a deeper understanding of this phenomenon. The researchers wanted to explore why individuals may engage in sexual compliance, how it impacts their well-being, and whether certain factors play an important role.
“We know from studies conducted mainly in North America that sexual compliance is common. However, no studies have been conducted in (Northern) Europe,” said study author Annika Gunst, an associate professor at Åbo Akademi University. “Compliance has previously been viewed as a viable relationship maintenance strategy, but there is also some evidence that more covert forms of pressure may play a role in cases of compliance. Therefore, we were interested in the experienced personal and relational outcomes of compliance.”
The researchers collected data through surveys and interviews, allowing them to explore a wide range of experiences and outcomes. The study included 1,496 participants, with the majority being women (93.2%). Most women identified as either heterosexual (64.3%) or bisexual (24.5%).
“We did not specifically market research invitations to (cis) women,” Gunst noted. “Despite efforts to increase the number of (cis) men in our study, few (cis) men decided to participate. While this may be explained by the fact that men are generally less likely to participate in health-related surveys, it may also indicate that compliance is more stigmatized and/or less common among men.”
The age of participants ranged from 18 to 73 years, with a mean age of 26.0 years. The majority of participants (68.5%) were in a committed relationship or domestic partnership. Among those in a relationship, the mean duration was 4.9 years, and for those not currently in a relationship, the mean duration of their most recent relationship was 1.8 years.
One of the most striking findings of this study was the prevalence of sexual compliance. Approximately 92.7% of the participants had complied with sexual activity at least once in their lives. Furthermore, 64% reported complying with sexual activity in their current or most recent relationships.
Age was found to be a significant factor, with older women reporting less sexual compliance. Additionally, those with higher education levels were less likely to engage in sexual compliance.
The study also highlighted the role of sexual self-control and partner sexual relationship power. Women who had poorer sexual resourcefulness skills and experienced more motives for sexual compliance (e.g., “I wanted to feel closer to my partner,” “I didn’t want to hurt my partner’s feelings”) tended to engage in sexual compliance more frequently. Higher partner sexual relationship power also predicted more sexual compliance.
“We found that women who had fewer tools for dealing with sexual compliance and women who experienced that their partner had more power in the relationship complied more to sex,” Gunst told PsyPost. “This confirms previous research. We also found that these aspects were associated with how people experience the consequences of compliance; those with fewer tools for dealing with compliance and those who experienced that their partner had more power experienced less positive consequences of compliance.”
When it came to the consequences of sexual compliance, participants reported a range of experiences. Negative consequences, such as decreased mood, self-esteem, relationship satisfaction, and sexual satisfaction, were commonly reported. On the flip side, positive consequences, including increased intimacy in the relationship and feelings of love or attachment, were also reported.
“How people experienced compliance varied from person to person,” Gunst said. “While the majority reported at least some negative consequences to their well-being or relationship, there were also those who reported only positive consequences. Some reported that compliance had severe negative consequences (e.g., being retraumatized).”
While this study provides valuable insights, it has some limitations. For instance, the sample was not entirely representative of the general population. “Despite the large sample size, this was a convenience sample, which means that our results do not reflect population frequencies,” Gunst explained.
Future studies could delve deeper into the concept of sexual compliance, considering factors like persuasion, past pressuring experiences, and covert social coercion. Additionally, researchers might investigate how ambivalence and different levels of desire influence sexual compliance. Such inquiries would contribute to a more nuanced understanding of this complex phenomenon.
“Sexual compliance is a complex concept, and there is still debate about how to define it,” Gunst told PsyPost. “For example, our study did not take into account possible ambivalent feelings about engaging in sex. Also, our study used both the phrases ‘sex without desire’ and ‘unwanted sex,’ and it is not clear whether these are interpreted in exactly the same way.”
The study, “Sexual Compliance in Finnish Committed Relationships: Sexual Self-Control, Relationship Power, and Experienced Consequences“, was authored by Marianne Himanena and Annika Gunst.
