Personality as a Predictor of Hooking Up Among College Students

Abstract

Hookups--casual sexual encounters that may or may not include intercourse - are common on college campuses. Previous research has suggested that these casual sexual encounters may have serious health-related consequences. Understanding the relationships among multiple predictors of hooking up is important if high-risk prevention programming among college students is to be effective. This study considers each of the Big Five personality traits as predictors of hooking-up behaviors in a sample of Midwestern undergraduates (N = 247). Fifty-six percent of women and 63% of men reported engaging in a hookup. In general, Extraversion was positively associated with hooking up behaviors; Conscientiousness was negatively associated with hooking up. Relationships between personality and hooking up were significant while controlling for alcohol use. Implications for prevention programming on college campuses are discussed.

Personalidade e comportamentos problema: um estudo comparativo com adolescentes em contexto escolar

“…Considerando a literatura, estes resultados apoiam os estudos que têm mostrado a associação entre problemas comportamentais, por um lado, e características como a impulsividade, desinibição, menor conscienciosidade e menor amabilidade, por outro (Barnown et al, 2005;Cukrowicz et al, 2006;Frick, 2004;Frick & Dantagnan, 2005;Hill, 2002;Joyce & Oakland, 2005;Latzam, Vaidya, Clark, & Watson, 2011;Lynam & Miller, 2004;Miller & Lynam, 2001;Nelson, Stage, Duppong-Hurley, Synhorst, & Epstein, 2007;Ruchkin et al, 2001;Singh & Waldman, 2010). Além disso, estes resultados obtidos com uma amostra de jovens sem sinalização psicopatológica vêm reiterar a importância que a investigação tem atribuído à personalidade na explicação e compreensão das alterações comportamentais (e da probabilidade da sua ocorrência) na adolescência (Gute & Eshbaugh, 2008;Hill, 2002;Joyce & Oakland, 2005;Miller & Lynam, 2001;Ruchkin et al, 2001). Com efeito, os resultados que obtivemos evidenciam que a forma como a personalidade se está a organizar tem correlatos ao nível da adaptação dos adolescentes aos diferentes contextos de desenvolvimento, isto é, a personalidade contribui para o modo como decorrem as transacções entre os jovens e os seus contextos de vida.…”

“…Vários estudos enfatizam como relevantes, para a compreensão de comportamentos problema nos indivíduos, os traços da personalidade, a predominância da emocionalidade negativa, a impulsividade e o sensation-seeking (Barnown et al, 2005;Cukrowicz, Taylor, Schatschneider, & Iacono, 2006;Frick, 2004;Frick & Dantagnan, 2005;Hill, 2002;Joyce & Oakland, 2005;Miller & Lynam, 2001;Ruchkin et al, 2001;Singh & Waldman, 2010). A impulsividade refere-se a uma incapacidade de inibição e tendência para envolvimento imediato em situações, sem planeamento ou consideração por implicações potenciais desse envolvimento (Zuckerman & Kuhlman, 2000), ao passo que o sensation seeking envolve a procura de sensações novas, intensas e variadas, suscetibilidade ao aborrecimento e disponibilidade para envolvimento em riscos pessoais, como consequência dessas experiências (Cazenave, Le Scanff, & Woodman, 2007;Gute & Eshbaugh, 2008;Rolison & Scherman, 2002, 2003Zuckerman & Kuhlman, 2000).…”

Dating is Hard Work: A Narrative Approach to Understanding Sexual and Romantic Relationships in Young Adulthood

“…For example, there has been an increase in the use of the term ''hook up'' in the popular media and research literature. Researchers commonly define and operationalize hooking up despite the ambiguity surrounding the term Gute and Eshbaugh 2008;Lambert et al 2003;Paul et al 2000). For this reason it is important to continue to learn and adapt to the meaning of relationship language.…”

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

“…For women, this reported incidence of romantic thoughts did not decline with an increase in number of partners, whereas for men romantic thoughts were inversely associated with number of sex partners. In addition, research on counterfactual thinking indicates that men tend to regret actions not taken (missed sexual opportunities), whereas women regret actions taken: single sexual encounters, number of casual partners, sex with strangers or with partners who falsely promised commitment (Gute and Eshbaugh 2008;Galperin et al 2013;Roese et al 2006).…”

“…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.…”