What Is Hooking Up? Examining Definitions of Hooking Up in Relation to Behavior and Normative Perceptions

Abstract

Research has demonstrated ambiguity about the definition of hooking up among college students. The current research examined whether there were multiple hooking up definitions among college students and how different definitions might be associated with participant's own hooking up behavior and normative perceptions of peer hooking up behavior. A random sample (N = 1,468) of undergraduates (56.4% female) completed a Web-based survey that was comprised of measures of drinking and sexual behavior. Open-ended definitions of hooking up were content coded and analyzed using a mixture model to explore discrete definitions of hooking up among college students. Findings indicated three clusters of student definitions of hooking up. Cluster 1 had the broadest definition, referring to sex in general, not specific sexual acts, and to making out. Cluster 2 placed an emphasis on interpersonal and social aspects. Cluster 3 defined hooking up as sex with notable references to specific sexual acts. Results further indicated that hooking up behavior and normative perceptions differentiated these three groups of definitions. Clinical implications regarding the inconsistency of student definitions of hooking up and how they may impact negative consequences associated with hooking up are discussed.

Simmering on the Back Burner: Communication with and Disclosure of Relationship Alternatives

“…Friends with benefits relationships (FWBRs) include sexual activities with friends who are not romantic partners (Bisson & Levine, 2009;Hughes, Morrison, & Asada, 2005;Wentland & Reissing, 2011). Finally, a hookup can refer to a sexual encounter that occurs only once (in this case, it is synonymous with a ONS) but also may refer to multiple sexual encounters that may or may not include intercourse (e.g., Epstein, Calzo, Smiler, & Ward, 2009;Lewis, Atkins, Blayney, Dent, & Kaysen, 2012;Owen & Fincham, 2010;Paul, McManus, & Hayes, 2000;Wentland & Reissing, 2011). In either case, a hookup occurs outside of a committed relationship (Garcia, Reiber, Massey, & Merriwether, 2012).…”

Family Influences on Hooking Up and Dating Among Emerging Adults

“…Heterosexual hooking up commonly involves two students who meet at a campus party or social event, then engage spontaneously in sexual behavior without an assumption of future contact. The term ''hooking up'' encompasses a wide range of sexual behaviors and possible future sexual or romantic outcomes (Lewis et al 2013;Paul and Hayes 2002). Hookups have not replaced, but coexist with, formal dates and relationships (Hamilton and Armstrong 2009).…”

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

“…Researchers are paying attention to these sexual relationships and, as a result, the research literature on CSRs has grown considerably (e.g., Bisson & Levine, 2009;Mongeau, Knight, Williams, Eden, & Shaw, 2013;Monto & Carey, 2014). ''Hooking up'' is used to describe one-time or episodic sexual activity that occurs outside the context of a committed relationship (e.g., Lambert, Kahn, & Apple, 2003;Lewis, Atkins, Blayney, Dent, & Kaysen, 2013), but fails to capture many of the details of CSRs, such as the nature of the relationship between the individuals. Identifying the key characteristics of various CSRs is a necessary first step toward identifying consistency in definitions of different CSRs, which can help create valid terminology to facilitate the investigation, generalization, and comparison of findings on the prevalence and correlates of these modern sexual relationships.…”