title: Are hookups replacing romantic relationships? A longitudinal study of first-year female college students.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the prevalence and frequency of sexual hookups across the first year of college and to compare rates of hookups and romantic relationship sex.
  
  
  METHODS
  We surveyed 483 first-year female college students (mean age, 18.1 years; range, 18-21 years, 64% white) monthly over the first year of college about the frequency of sexual behavior in the context of hookups and romantic relationships.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of hookups involving oral or vaginal sex was 34% before college and 40% during the first year, compared with 58% and 56%, respectively, with romantic partners. Fewer than one in five participants (7%-18%) had a sexual hookup each month, whereas 25%-38% had sex in the context of relationships each month.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hooking up varies in frequency over the first year in college, but remains less common than sex in the context of relationships.
authors.affiliation: Center for Health and Behavior and Department of Psychology, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Robyn L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Fielder
authors.forename: Kate B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Carey
authors.forename: Michael P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Carey
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001290:Attitude; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015995:Prevalence; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012747:Sexual Partners; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult