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Investigating Short-Term Effects of Hooking Up on the Well-Being of Emerging Adult College Students

Weitbrecht, Eliza M
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1504799904367706

Abstract Details

2017, PhD, University of Cincinnati, Arts and Sciences: Psychology.
Hooking up, or casual sexual interactions between uncommitted partners, are prevalent among young adults. Despite its prevalence, the influence of hooking up on young adults’ psychological health is not well understood. The present study utilized a short-term prospective design to examine the longitudinal associations between hooking up (any involvement in hook ups, frequency of hook ups, and number of hook up partners) and psychological health (depressive symptoms, anxiety, self-esteem, and alcohol use) over a 10-week period, among a sample of 287 college students. We tested for associations in both directions and for moderating effects of gender, sexual intimacy, and hook up motives. Results indicated effects in both directions, such that those involved in hook ups showed more increases in depressive symptoms and alcohol use compared to those who had not hooked up, and, greater levels of initial depressive symptoms, anxiety, and alcohol use, and lower self-esteem predicted increased likelihood of hooking up in the following 10 weeks. Results revealed no moderating effects, indicating that these associations may be fairly consistent among individuals. Despite that hooking up is normative during emerging adulthood and a common way to explore one’s sexuality, findings indicate that it is more common among those experiencing poor psychological health, and, also leads to increases in emotional distress and hazardous alcohol use.
Sarah Whitton (Committee Chair)
Farrah Jacquez (Committee Member)
Rachel Kallen (Committee Member)
57 p.
Psychology
hook ups; casual sexual activity; psychological health; depressive symptoms; college students; emerging adulthood

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Weitbrecht, E. M. (2017). Investigating Short-Term Effects of Hooking Up on the Well-Being of Emerging Adult College Students [Doctoral dissertation, University of Cincinnati]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1504799904367706

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Weitbrecht, Eliza. Investigating Short-Term Effects of Hooking Up on the Well-Being of Emerging Adult College Students. 2017. University of Cincinnati, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1504799904367706.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Weitbrecht, Eliza. "Investigating Short-Term Effects of Hooking Up on the Well-Being of Emerging Adult College Students." Doctoral dissertation, University of Cincinnati, 2017. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1504799904367706

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

ucin1504799904367706
395
© 2017, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by University of Cincinnati and OhioLINK.