Are hookups replacing romantic relationships? A longitudinal study of first-year female college students
Robyn L Fielder1, Kate B Carey, Michael P Carey
1Center for Health and Behavior and Department of Psychology, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, USA.
Purpose:
To assess the prevalence and frequency of sexual hookups across the first year of college and to compare rates of hookups and romantic relationship sex.
Methods:
We surveyed 483 first-year female college students (mean age, 18.1 years; range, 18-21 years, 64% white) monthly over the first year of college about the frequency of sexual behavior in the context of hookups and romantic relationships.
Results:
The prevalence of hookups involving oral or vaginal sex was 34% before college and 40% during the first year, compared with 58% and 56%, respectively, with romantic partners. Fewer than one in five participants (7%-18%) had a sexual hookup each month, whereas 25%-38% had sex in the context of relationships each month.
Conclusions:
Hooking up varies in frequency over the first year in college, but remains less common than sex in the context of relationships.
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