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“Hookups”: Characteristics and correlates of college students' spontaneous and anonymous sexual experiences

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Paul, Elizabeth L., McManus, Brian, Hayes, Allison·2000·Journal of Sex Research
DOI 10.1080/00224490009552023
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Abstract

This study focused on a specific risky practice common among contemporary college students: the hookup. Hookups are defined as a sexual encounter which may or may not include sexual intercourse, usually occurring on only one occasion between two people who are strangers or brief acquaintances. The aim of this study was to determine the relative importance of a variety of social and psychological predictors in understanding differences among undergraduate students who had never hooked up, those who had hooked up without sexual intercourse, and those who had hooked up with sexual intercourse. Analyses revealed that, as predicted, social, individual, and relational psychological variables helped to explain the variance among college students' varied hookup experiences. By examining the full range of sexual involvement characteristic of the casual sexual phenomenon of hooking up within a multivariate model, we were able to achieve a more differentiated understanding of college students' casual sexual experimentation.

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Cited by

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Authors
Paul, E. L., McManus, B., & Hayes, A.
Affiliations
The College of New Jersey (US)
Venue
Journal of Sex Research
Publisher
Informa UK Limited
Published
2000-02
Volume
37
Issue
1
Pages
76-88
ISSN
  • 0022-4499 (ISSN-L)
  • 1559-8519
DOI
10.1080/00224490009552023
OpenAlex
W2004376714
Cited by
648
References
1
Citations by year
2026: 7 · 2025: 10 · 2024: 10 · 2023: 14 · 2022: 19 · 2021: 26 · 2020: 42 · 2019: 30 · 2018: 36 · 2017: 33 · 2016: 34 · 2015: 48 · 2014: 58 · 2013: 57 · 2012: 51
FWCI
9.78
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
The Journal of Sex Research (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Marriage and Sexual Relationships
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Sexuality, Behavior, and Technology
Keywords
hookups, casual sex, university students, sexual risk behavior, sexual intercourse, predictors of sexual behavior, sexual exploration

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