A new perspective on hooking up among college students

Abstract

Hooking up is a common behavior among young adults. Studies examining predictors of hooking up have yielded mixed results. This prospective study ( N = 339) used latent class regression analysis to identify two distinct groups for which hooking up was predicted differently. In all, 30% of participants accounted for 74% of those reporting hooking up across the entire sample. They reported significantly higher levels of alcohol use and depressive symptoms and lower levels of religiosity compared to participants in the other group. The patterns of predictive variables suggest that some young adults may pursue hooking up as a means of coping with distress, while others may do so as a way to meet attachment needs. These results illustrate that motivational factors for hooking up vary and may manifest in group-defined patterns. Using new methods to analyze hooking up may improve research accuracy and enhance understanding of young adult sexual behavior.