Casual sexual relationships: Identifying definitions for one night stands, booty calls, fuck buddies, and friends with benefits

Abstract

Operational definitions of casual sexual relationships (CSRs; i.e., Friends with Benefits, Booty Call) have not been validated in previous research. In this exploratory study of terminology used to describe various CSRs, participants were provided with definitions for One Night Stand, Booty Call, Fuck Buddy, and Friends with Benefits relationships and asked to identify the corresponding label for each definition. Overall, a majority (i.e., ≥81%) of men (n=341) and women (n=544) accurately identified the corresponding labels. Specifically, a higher proportion of participants with sexual intercourse experience identified the corresponding definition labels, whereas there was no difference in the proportion of those with or without previous casual sex experience. Furthermore, a higher proportion of female participants identified the corresponding labels, possibly reflecting a greater capacity to identify subtle relationship cues conveyed within the definitions. Given the prevalence of CSRs in the current cultural context, it is vital for researchers to ensure that the terminology they use accurately reflects their participants' understanding of the concepts under investigation.

A Decade Review of Sex and Partnering in Adolescence and Young Adulthood

“…Several CSREs have been the topic of study during the past decade. Prominent among these is hooking up (or hookups) and friends‐with‐benefits relationships (Bisson & Levine, ; Owen & Fincham, ), although some research has examined booty calls (e.g., Jonason, Li, & Cason, ; Jonason, Li, & Richardson, ) and fuck buddies (Wentland & Reissing, , ). Although some scholars (Wentland & Reissing, ) suggested that these CSREs potentially fall on a spectrum (as opposed to distinct experiences), these relationships have largely been studied as distinct.…”

Navigating Campus Hookup Culture: LGBTQ Students and College Hookups

“…College students use the term hookup to indicate a wide range of sexual behaviors, from kissing and making out, to intercourse (Bogle ; England, Shafer, and Fogarty ; Wade ). That said, the defining feature of the hookup is that participants are assumed to engage in some level of sexual activity free from the obligation to form any ongoing, committed romantic relationship (Bogle ; Wentland and Reissing ). Hookups can occur more than once between the same people, provided they share an understanding that these repeated sexual encounters do not indicate a more committed, and sexually exclusive, romantic relationship (Wentland and Reissing ).…”

“…That said, the defining feature of the hookup is that participants are assumed to engage in some level of sexual activity free from the obligation to form any ongoing, committed romantic relationship (Bogle ; Wentland and Reissing ). Hookups can occur more than once between the same people, provided they share an understanding that these repeated sexual encounters do not indicate a more committed, and sexually exclusive, romantic relationship (Wentland and Reissing ). Hookups are often arranged or pursued spontaneously at a social event or are at least expected to appear spontaneous (Wade ).…”

Heterosexual Casual Sex and STI Diagnosis: A Latent Class Analysis

“…Casual sex was different than the broader behavior of hooking up which could include vaginal sex, kissing, and anything in between. Most past studies measured casual sex as either number of partners (Wentland & Reissing, 2014), last partner was casual (Eisenberg et al, 2009), or ever having casual sex (Bailey et al, 2008). Very little research had examined casual sexual behavior from a person-centered approach with a multidimensional operationalization of casual sex.…”