A new study from Finland looked at nearly 900 people in committed relationships who sometimes agree to sex even when they don’t feel like it, something called ‘sexual compliance’. This is actually quite common, but how people communicate their consent (verbally, non-verbally, or by saying nothing) can affect how they feel afterward.

The study found:

• Most people (44%) gave consent nonverbally (like body language).
• Saying “yes” explicitly and clearly was linked to the most negative feelings afterward.
• Giving a more implied “yes” (like suggestive words or tone) was linked to the most positive feelings.
• Gender didn’t make a difference in these outcomes.

So, while clear and enthusiastic consent is important, this research shows it’s not one-size-fits-all in committed relationships. How people communicate consent can influence how good or bad the experience feels.

The takeaway? We need to keep exploring how couples can communicate consent in a way that feels both safe and satisfying.

Source: Häggman-Wiik, Malin (2025). The Association Between Communication of Consent and Perceived Consequences of Sexual Compliance in a Population-Based Sample, 515 Psykologia [292].