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Investigating the “Hook Ups” of Emerging Adult College Students: Motivations, Expectations, Ideal and Actual Outcomes of Hook Ups

Weitbrecht, Eliza M

Abstract Details

2014, MA, University of Cincinnati, Arts and Sciences: Psychology.
This study examined emerging adults’ motivations for hooking up, their expected and ideal outcomes of hook ups, and gender differences within these three constructs. Using a two-wave prospective design, this study also investigated the actual outcomes of participants’ most recent hook ups, as well as whether ideal outcomes of these particular encounters were fulfilled. Participants were 348 university students who completed a two-part online survey containing various self-report measures on hooking up. Results showed that sexual pleasure was the most commonly endorsed motive for hooking up by the overall sample, but that several gender differences emerged across additional motives for hooking up. For both genders, the most commonly reported expected outcome of hook ups was a continued sexual relationship (i.e., further hook ups or friends-with-benefits). However, men and women differed significantly on their ideal outcomes of hook ups in general, with many women reporting a romantic relationship as ideal and many men reporting a continued sexual relationship as ideal. Follow-up reports on participants’ most recent hook ups revealed that the actual outcomes of these encounters varied considerably, with a continued sexual relationship the most commonly reported actual outcome. Approximately one third of the sample reported that the ideal outcome of their most recent hook up was fulfilled. Results suggest that men and women may have incompatible approaches toward hooking up, which may create limited opportunities for women to experience the types of sexual and romantic interactions they desire (e.g., a committed relationship; emotional intimacy), given that men appear to be less interested than women in finding committed partners and in forming long-term commitments during college.
Sarah Whitton, Ph.D. (Committee Chair)
Farrah Jacquez, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Alison Mcleish, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
40 p.

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Citations

  • Weitbrecht, E. M. (2014). Investigating the “Hook Ups” of Emerging Adult College Students: Motivations, Expectations, Ideal and Actual Outcomes of Hook Ups [Master's thesis, University of Cincinnati]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1406810416

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Weitbrecht, Eliza. Investigating the “Hook Ups” of Emerging Adult College Students: Motivations, Expectations, Ideal and Actual Outcomes of Hook Ups. 2014. University of Cincinnati, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1406810416.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Weitbrecht, Eliza. "Investigating the “Hook Ups” of Emerging Adult College Students: Motivations, Expectations, Ideal and Actual Outcomes of Hook Ups." Master's thesis, University of Cincinnati, 2014. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1406810416

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)