Consensual unwanted sex: Motivations and reservations

Consensual unwanted sex (or sexual compliance) is the act of saying "yes" to sexual advances when there is no desire to engage in sexual activity. While previous research has extensively investigated desired sexual behavior and rape, less is known about consensual, yet unwanted sexual activity. This study devised a scale to measure consensual unwanted sex and explored its relationship with several characteristics (i.e., sexual self-efficacy, sexual assertiveness, sex refusal skill, sex motives, and conflict style) that may contribute to consenting to sex contrary to one's desire. Participants recalled sexual compliance in adolescent dating relationships. Results revealed that decreased consent to unwanted sex was related to increased sexual self-efficacy, sex refusal, partner approval, and an obliging conflict style in females. For males, consensual unwanted sex in adolescence was associated with younger age at sex initiation and having sex for physical gratification.