Hook-up behavior: A biopsychosocial perspective.

Abstract

Hook-up behavior consists of sexual activity between uncommitted individuals. "Hooking up" has become pervasive among young adults, particularly on college campuses in the United States, despite inherent emotional, physical, social and health risks. A total of 507 undergraduate students were surveyed to assess the prevalence of, and motivations for, hook-up behavior. Of those students, 64% reported having ever engaged in a hook-up. Of those who had hooked up, 51% had done so with the intention of initiating a traditional romantic relationship; there were no sex differences. Contrary to established notions of uncommitted sexual activity as an evolved behavioral strategy, results are discussed from a synergistic biopsychosocial perspective that situates this complex sexual behavior at the intersection of evolution, basic biology, psychology, and novel cultural factors. A decreasing average age at menarche and increasing age of mother at first birth has created a window of sexually mature but pre-reproductive life that is historically unprecedented in its duration. We suggest this time window, paired with evolved neural correlates of sexual and reproductive behavior, greater acceptance of the social sexualization of youth, and characteristics of the modern collegiate environment, results in the increasing prevalence of hook-ups.

Casual Sex and College Students: Sex Differences and the Impact of Father Absence

“…Similar to Garcia and Reiber (2008) and Townsend et al (2015), we found no sex differences in the number of sex partners in the last 12 months. However, we did find men engaged in more one night stands and had more casual sexual partners (no time frame specified).…”

“…The differences between these measures of casual sex could be due to several factors. Garcia and Reiber (2008) reported no sex difference in hooking up in the past year among college students but more men reported sex with strangers and more women reported sex with traditional romantic partners. Our sample could have varied in their answers to the casual sex questions because of variations in behavior prior to college, as we had many first year students.…”

“…Although some studies report substantial intersexual overlap in expressed motivations and reactions to casual sexual relations, some significant sex differences persist (Garcia et al 2012;Kenrick et al 1993;Townsend and Wasserman 2011). For example Garcia and Reiber (2008) found that compared to men, women hooked up more frequently with partners they knew and women were more likely to hope for traditional romantic relationships. Owen and Fincham (2011) also found that women were more likely to hope that hookups would lead to commitment.…”

“…Although many college students engage in longer-term sexual or romantic relationships, up to 80 % of college students report engaging in some casual sexual encounters (Garcia and Reiber 2008;Gute and Eshbaugh 2008). For many young adults, hooking up has replaced dating as a way of establishing and maintaining sexual relationships.…”

“Amigos con beneficios”: salud sexual y estilos de apego de hombres y mujeres

“…El alcohol, elemento desinhibidor y reforzador de las expectativas sexuales, puede favorecer la inclinación a participar en conductas sexuales íntimas con un amigo, constituyendo una conducta de riesgo vinculada a la asunción de otros peligros en el campo de la salud sexual (Afifi;Faulkner, 2000;Weaver;MacKeigan;MacDonald, 2011). En este sentido, es más probable que se produzca el sexo casual cuando ambas partes han estado bebiendo o consumiendo drogas (García;Reiber, 2008;Grello;Welsh;Harper, 2006). Por tanto, se puede afirmar que el consumo de alcohol está relacionado con la participación en una relación de AMB precediendo a la mayoría de las conexiones sexuales (Fielder;Carey, 2010).…”