College Students’ Expectations for Hook-Ups.

Amanda Smitley

Hanover College

Why Study This?

Interest in sex researchProminent behavior among

college students (Paul, 2000)

Definition of a Hook-up

A hook-up is a brief sexual encounter between two people who either do not know each other at all, who are just acquainted, or have had a previous non-sexual relationship. The sexual encounter may involve petting, oral sex, and/or sexual intercourse (kissing alone does not constitute a hook-up.

(Adjusted Paul 2006, 141)

Gender Differences in Sexual Attitudes

– 50% of both men and women agreed to take the date

– 75% of men said “yes” to the sexual invitation

– Not a single woman said “yes” to sex(Clark and Hatfield ,1989)

Who Hooks-Up More

Men exhibit more permissive attitudes toward, and greater interest in experiencing, uncommitted sexual activity than do women (Oliver & Hyde, 1993)

Motives for Hook-Up

– 47% of men -- sexual desire– 29% of women -- sexual desire

– 9% of men -- increase in relationship probability– 44% of women -- increase in relationship probability

(Regan and Dreyer,1999)

Different Experiences of Sex– Women traditionally have been known to link love with sex,

while men have been known to separate the two (Glass & Wright, 1985)

Unexplored Areas

Expectations vs. motives – Motives: drive– Expectations: predictions

Changes after the hook-up– New dimension of hook-up research

Research Questions

What are the expectations that college students have about hook-ups?

How do expectations of men and women differ?

Do expectations about the relationship change after a hook-up?

Hypotheses

Males will have significantly more hook-ups than females.

Males will expect a pleasurable sexual experience during a hook-up significantly more than females.

Females will expect a romantic relationship to form after the hook-up significantly more than males.

Methods…Participants

66 total– 44 female– Ages 18-29

M=20.48– 42 Caucasian

Class Level– 27 Freshman– 14 Sophomore– 11 Junior– 14 Senior

Materials

Questionnaire posted on Psychological Research On the Net (Krantz, 2008)– Informed Consent– Demographics– Hook-up history– Hook-up expectations– Changed expectations after hook-ups– Debriefing form

Demographics

Age Sex Class level Ethnicity

Religious Affiliation Greek Affiliation Relationship Status Sexual Orientation

Hook-Up History(Example Questions)

Approximately, how many hook-ups have you been involved in since beginning college?

Of the hook-ups you have been involved in, approximately how many have involved alcohol or other drugs?

Hook-Up Expectations(Example Questions)

Closed-Ended Questions– In most of your hook-

ups, to what extent did you expect to have a pleasurable sexual experience?

– In most of your hook-ups, to what extent did you expect to relieve boredom?

Open-Ended Questions– What do you expect to

get from an ideal hook-up?

– What would a bad hook-up look like?

Changed Expectations After Hook-ups(Example Questions)

Have your expectations ever changed after a hook-up?

After a hook-up, have you kept in contact with that person you hooked-up with?

RESULTS

Number of Hook-ups Versus Grade Level and Gender

Female range: 0-15 Male range: 0-25

Main Effect for Grade: F(1,3)=6.07, p<.01

Hook-Up Behaviors

33 out of 66 participants reported drugs or alcohol being used during the majority of their hook-ups.

15 participants reported never using any form of STI protection during a hook-up. (3 men, 12 women)

Expect Pleasurable Sexual Experience

t(64)=-.59, p=.56; Hypothesis 2 not confirmed

Expect Relationship

t(63)=.422, p=.674; Hypothesis 3 not confirmed

Expect Better Reputation

t(64)=-3.63, p<.01

Expect Popularity

t(64)=-2.48, p=.02

Expectations After the Hook-Up

27 participants (41%) -- experienced changed expectations

39 participants (59%) -- engaged in a romantic relationship

59 participants (89 %) -- remained in contact

44 participants (67%) -- had regrets

Discussion

There were no significant gender differences between number of hook-ups, expectations of a romantic relationship, or expectation of a pleasurable hook-up.

However, there were significant gender differences between popularity and a better reputation from peers in regards to hook-ups.

– Male participants viewed casual sex as a means of enhancing their reputation among other men (Regan and Dreyer, 1999)

Discussion

Hook-ups are common; however, not everyone engaging in them uses safe protection.

Not surprisingly, based on the stereotypes, the use of alcohol is quite common; however, as seen there were a number of hook-ups where alcohol was not involved

Future Directions

Diversity– Only had 66 total participants and 67% were female. – Predominantly Caucasian participants

Focus more on drugs and alcohol Compare the expectations that individuals who have

never engaged in a hook-up have in comparison to those that have already hooked-up

Conclusion

Some of the participants reported experiences of ambivalence or mixed feelings in regards to hook-ups.

QUESTIONS?