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Degree

Doctor of Philosophy, Miami University, Psychology, 2011.

Abstract

Hookups are an emerging trend in sexual behavior among college students in which non-romantic partners engage in sexual activity (Paul et. al, 2000). Existing studies on hookups rely on a variety of researcher-defined systems for categorizing college students’ sexual behavior, leading to difficulties in comparing findings across studies as well as leading some to suggest that hookups are replacing other forms of sexual relationships (e.g., more traditional romantic relationships). The purpose of the current study was to identify naturally occurring subgroups of sexually active college women based upon their reported consensual sexual behavior both in hookups and in romantic relationships. Four hundred forty-three sexually active college women completed an anonymous questionnaire assessing drinking behaviors, sexual behaviors, sexual activity in the context of alcohol use, sex motives, sexual assertiveness, risky sex expectancies, and sexual victimization. A cluster analysis was performed, yielding a 6-cluster solution for classifying college women’s sexual behavior. This classification system included three aspects of sexual behavior, including relational context, sexual acts (intercourse versus oral sex) and number of sex partners. Results of the cluster analysis suggested that, while 43.8% of women reported hookups, the vast majority of women (93.4%) also endorsed sexual behavior with a romantic partner. Results suggest that prior studies’ focus on differentiating women who engaged in hookups from those who did not may underestimate the importance of college women’s sexual behavior in romantic relationships. Associations between hookups and alcohol use, sex motives, sexual assertiveness, and sexual victimization also were examined, along with implications for future directions in research and prevention.

Subject Headings

Psychology

Keywords

Hookups; College Women; Sexual Victimization; Alcohol Use; Sex Motives; Sexual Assertiveness

Committee / Advisors

Terri Messman-Moore, PhD (Advisor)
Rose Marie Ward, PhD (Committee Member)
Margaret Wright, PhD (Committee Member)
Amanda Diekman, PhD (Committee Member)

Document number: miami1297783992
Permalink: http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1297783992

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