Describing the “Gray” Area of Consent: A Comparison of Sexual Consent Understanding Across the Adult Lifespan

ABSTRACT

Sexual violence or misconduct can occur at any age, yet sexual consent understanding is not well studied, especially beyond early adulthood. This project aimed to describe how sexual consent is conceptualized across the adult lifespan, drawing comparisons between young, middle-aged, and older adults. Additionally, we examined variables that may differ by age group and influence sexual consent conceptualization. In a survey, young adults (n= 266), middle-aged adults (n= 236), and older adults (n= 51) were asked to define sexual consent and complete a measure on the appropriateness of giving and receiving consent in different types of sexual relationships. Participants also reported on their exposure to formal sex education and their current sexual relationship status. More than half (57.4%) of participants included basic elements of a simple core definition (agreement in reference to sexual acts), and most (63.3%) expanded beyond a simple definition. Age groups differed significantly on variables expected to influence sexual consent definitions, including exposure to sexual education and sexual consent attitudes. Age group differences were not found when examining the simple core definition, but young adults and middle-aged adults differed significantly in their expansion on the definition. Sexual consent attitudes were also significantly related to the scope of the supplied definition. These findings suggest that sexual consent definitions vary in scope across at least a portion of the lifespan and that the importance placed on sexual consent may be a reasonable intervention target regardless of age differences in sexual experience and education.

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge Dana Laverne, Taelor Moyer, and Bridget Sherwood for their contributions at different points throughout the research process while serving as undergraduate research assistants at Elmira College.

Additional information

Funding

The research was funded by internal funding mechanisms through Elmira College (Kenneth and Janice Whitehead Freeman ‘72 Endowment Prize) and faculty start-up funds supplied through the College of Arts & Sciences at Northern Kentucky University. Funding bodies did not influence the planning, completion, or dissemination of the results.