title: Toward a more complete understanding of reactions to hooking up among college women.
abstract: Hooking up, a relatively common behavior among young adults, refers to a casual sexual encounter, ranging from kissing to sexual intercourse, without an expectation of ongoing physical encounters or relational commitment. Reactions to hooking up have examined psychosocial outcomes as a proxy for specific reactions. The present study examined the reactions of 190 college women, with a specific focus on the effect of hooking up on their social/peer network, their sexual/romantic sense of self, and their academic performance. Results demonstrated large positive effects for sexual/romantic reactions and social/academic engagement reactions in comparison with negative personal reactions. In addition, higher ratings of anxious attachment, loneliness, and relational/intimacy sex motives were related to less positive reactions, highlighting the importance of attachment and motivations behind hookup experiences. Implications for educational practice and future research are offered.
authors.affiliation: a Counseling Psychology, College of Education and Human Development , University of Louisville , Louisville , Kentucky , USA.
authors.forename: Jesse
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Owen
authors.forename: Kelley
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Quirk
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fincham
mesh_terms: D000124:Achievement; D000293:Adolescent; D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication / Q000523:psychology; D003625:Data Collection; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008132:Loneliness / Q000523:psychology; D009042:Motivation; D009769:Object Attachment; D010379:Peer Group; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012649:Self Concept; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D012944:Social Support; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult