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The Journal of Sex Research Volume 51, 2014 - Issue 1
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ARTICLES

Risky Business: Is There an Association between Casual Sex and Mental Health among Emerging Adults?

Melina M. Bersamin Department of Child Development, California State University, SacramentoCorrespondence[email protected]
,
Byron L. Zamboanga Department of Psychology, Smith College
,
Seth J. Schwartz Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Miami
,
M. Brent Donnellan Department of Psychology, Michigan State University
,
Monika Hudson School of Business and Professional Studies, University of San Francisco
,
Robert S. Weisskirch Human Development, California State University, Monterey Bay
,
Su Yeong Kim Department of Human Ecology, University of Texas, Austin
,
V. Bede Agocha Department of Psychology, University of Connecticut
,
Susan Krauss Whitbourne Department of Psychology, University of Massachusetts Amherst
&
S. Jean Caraway Department of Psychology, University of South Dakota
 show all
Pages 43-51 | Published online: 07 Jun 2013
 
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Abstract

A multiethnic sample of single, heterosexual, emerging-adult college students (N = 3,907) ages 18 to 25, from 30 institutions across the United States, participated in a study about identity, culture, psychological well-being, and risky behaviors. Given ongoing debates about the connection between casual sex and psychological adjustment, in the current study we assessed the cross-sectional association of participation in casual sex with psychological well-being and distress. A greater proportion of men (18.6%) compared to women (7.4%) reported having had casual sex in the month prior to assessment. Structural equation modeling indicated that casual sex was negatively associated with well-being (ß = .20, p < .001) and positively associated with psychological distress (ß = .16, p < .001). Gender did not moderate these associations. For emerging-adult college students, engaging in casual sex may elevate risk for negative psychological outcomes.

Notes

Note. All correlations are significant at p < .001.

*p < .05. **p < .01. ***p < .001.

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