Hook-Up Sexual Experiences and Problem Behaviors Among Adolescents

Abstract

This study focuses on the sexual phenomenon of “hooking up.” A hook-up is defined as a single sexual encounter that may or may not include sexual intercourse with someone who is a stranger, brief acquaintance, or friend. The aim of this study was to document the prevalence of hook-ups in a sample of 1,011 urban middle and high school students and to examine the relationship between hooking up and a variety of problem behaviors, including, alcohol, cigarette, and/or illicit drug use, truancy, and school suspensions. The results revealed that 28% of the sample had engaged in at least one hook-up experience, and this percentage increased with age. Hook-ups were correlated moderately with all problem behaviors examined.

KEYWORDS:

• adolescence
• alcohol use
• drug use
• hook-ups
• problem behaviors
• risk taking
• sexual activity

This study was supported by research grants R03 AA014601-01A1 (PI: Amy Young) from the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism and R03 DA018272-01 (PI: Carol J. Boyd) from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health.

Notes

*p < .05, **p < .01.

*p < .05, **p < .01.