Romantic Partners, Friends, Friends with Benefits, and Casual Acquaintances as Sexual Partners

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to provide a detailed examination of sexual behavior with different types of partners. A sample of 163 young adults reported on their light nongenital, heavy nongenital, and genital sexual activity with romantic partners, friends, and casual acquaintances. They described their sexual activity with “friends with benefits,” as well as with friends in general. Young adults were most likely to engage in sexual behavior with romantic partners, but sexual behavior also often occurred with some type of nonromantic partner. More young adults engaged in some form of sexual behavior with casual acquaintances than with friends with benefits. The frequencies of sexual behavior, however, were greater with friends with benefits than with friends or casual acquaintances. Interview and questionnaire data revealed that friends with benefits were typically friends, but not necessarily. Nonsexual activities were also less common with friends with benefits than other friends. Taken together, the findings illustrate the value of differentiating among different types of nonromantic partners and different levels of sexual behavior.

Acknowledgments

This research was supported by Grant 50106 from the National Institute of Mental Health (to Wyndol Furman, Primary Investigator) and Grant HD049080 from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (to Wyndol Furman, Primary Investigator). Appreciation is expressed to the Project STAR staff for their contribution to the data collection and to the individuals, families, and schools who are participating in Project STAR.

Notes

Note. The number preceding the question refers to the order of the questions. The category of “other” answers refers to qualified ones that were not simple yes or no responses (e.g., “it depends”). Numbers slightly vary across questions because of technical problems.

Note. Different subscripts for different relationships in the same row indicate that the proportions for that type of sexual behavior significantly differ between the two relationships.

Note. Different subscripts reflect significant differences among types of relationships (combined across gender).

Note. Different subscripts reflect significant differences among types of relationships, and different letters indicate gender differences in particular relationships.

Note. NG = nongenital.