A Short-Term Longitudinal Investigation of the Perceived Hookup Attitude of Gender-Specific Close Friends and Hookup Behavior.

Keke Yu ,Yong Zheng

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01410

Abstract

Research suggests that peer injunctive norms (i.e., perceived attitudes) have an indirect effect on youth’s behavior. Few studies have explored the underlying mechanism of the relationship between the perceived attitude of gender-specific close friends and hookup behavior. Following the social norm approach and the social learning theory, a person’s own hookup attitude and their emotional reaction after a hookup would influence this relationship as mediators. We therefore examined the association between perceived hookup attitudes of students’ same-sex/opposite-sex close friends and the number of hookup partners via mediated variables (i.e., own hookup attitude and affect following a recent hookup) in Chinese college students (N = 314) who completed self-report measures at 6-month intervals. The results of a path analysis showed that students’ own attitudes toward hookups and negative affect following a hookup significantly mediated the association between perceived hookup attitudes of same-sex close friends and the number of hookup partners over 6 months. These findings indicate that same-sex close friends’ injunctive norms were more strongly associated with future hookup behavior, as compared to opposite-sex friends’ injunctive norms. To better understand the relationship between peer norms and hookup behavior, both students’ hookup attitudes and negative emotional responses should be considered.

Highlights

A hookup is a commonly used term to describe casual sexual behavior, ranging from kissing to intercourse, with a partner with whom there is no current romantic commitment and with whom no future romantic commitment is expected (Lewis et al, 2013)
The current study aims to clarify how the perceived attitudes of socially proximal reference groups are related to future number of hookup partners, as well as the mechanisms associated with these relationships among Chinese college students
The initial path model was accepted [perceived same- and opposite-sex friends’ hookup attitudes, own hookup attitudes, and positive and negative affect after a recent hookup were all measured at the same time-point, we examined the alternative model

Summary

Introduction

A hookup is a commonly used term to describe casual sexual behavior, ranging from kissing to intercourse, with a partner with whom there is no current romantic commitment and with whom no future romantic commitment is expected (Lewis et al, 2013). Hookups have become a part of campus culture in Western society. Some previous studies have demonstrated the potential benefits of hookups. Multiple studies indicate that hooking up involves risky, physically unhealthy behavior and outcomes, including negative emotional reactions (e.g., regret and embarrassment; Fisher et al, 2012; Lewis et al, 2012; Bachtel, 2013), Hookups and Perceived Friends Attitudes unplanned pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) infection, and non-consensual sex (e.g., Downing-Matibag and Geisinger, 2009; Fielder and Carey, 2010; Garcia et al, 2012; Napper et al, 2015)

Methods

Results

Conclusion