No strings attached? How attachment orientation relates to the varieties of casual sexual relationships

Abstract

Previous research has conflated different types of casual sex, potentially obscuring patterns that may vary across categories. Using data from two large online community samples, we examined whether differences in attachment orientation predict experiences in casual sex encounters (i.e., One-Night Stand, Booty Call, Fuck Buddies, Friends With Benefits). We construed these encounters as ranging on levels of intimacy, and hypothesized that anxious individuals would most enjoy more intimate forms of casual sex and avoidant individuals would most enjoy less intimate forms. We asked individuals engaging in casual sex about their most recent sexual encounter. Results suggest that anxious and avoidant individuals report lower well-being in casual sex contexts relative to more secure individuals; however, the specific type of encounter moderated these associations. Regardless of the type of encounter, anxious individuals experience fewer orgasms. Attachment orientation predicted motivations for engaging in, and expectations for, casual sex relationships. For avoidant individuals, physical pleasure during sex is contingent on the type of encounter (reporting the highest levels of physical pleasure in Fuck Buddies encounters). This study is the first to provide evidence that the type of casual sexual encounter influences how anxious and avoidant individuals experience sex, both emotionally and physically.