Faculty Collaboration Database

Predictors of sexual hookups: a theory-based, prospective study of first-year college women. Arch Sex Behav 2013 Nov;42(8):1425-41

Date

05/10/2013

Pubmed ID

23657811

Pubmed Central ID

PMC3779659

DOI

10.1007/s10508-013-0106-0

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-84890548730 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   91 Citations

Abstract

Hooking up, or engaging in sexual interactions outside of committed relationships, has become increasingly common among college students. This study sought to identify predictors of sexual hookup behavior among first-year college women using a prospective longitudinal design. We used problem behavior theory (Jessor, 1991) as an organizing conceptual framework and examined risk and protective factors for hooking up from three domains: personality, behavior, and perceived environment. Participants (N = 483, 67 % White) completed an initial baseline survey that assessed risk and protective factors, and nine monthly follow-up surveys that assessed the number of hookups involving performing oral sex, receiving oral sex, and vaginal sex. Over the course of the school year, 20 % of women engaged in at least one hookup involving receiving oral sex, 25 % engaged in at least one hookup involving performing oral sex, and 25 % engaged in at least one hookup involving vaginal sex. Using two-part modeling with logistic and negative binomial regression, we identified predictors of hooking up. Risk factors for sexual hookups included hookup intentions, impulsivity, sensation-seeking, pre-college hookups, alcohol use, marijuana use, social comparison orientation, and situational triggers for hookups. Protective factors against sexual hookups included subjective religiosity, self-esteem, religious service attendance, and having married parents. Race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, hookup attitudes, depression, cigarette smoking, academic achievement, injunctive norms, parental connectedness, and being in a romantic relationship were not consistent predictors of sexual hookups. Future research on hookups should consider the array of individual and social factors that influence this behavior.

Author List

Fielder RL, Walsh JL, Carey KB, Carey MP

Author

Jennifer L. Walsh PhD Associate Professor in the Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Adolescent
Adult
Alcohol Drinking
Attitude
Coitus
Female
Humans
Logistic Models
Male
New York
Perception
Personality
Prospective Studies
Religion and Sex
Risk Factors
Self Concept
Sexual Behavior
Students
Surveys and Questionnaires
Universities