college students’ expectations for hook-ups. amanda smitley hanover college
TRANSCRIPT
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?