Religion, Race, Social Class, and Gender Differences in Dating and Hooking Up among College Students

Abstract

Students at a mid-size state university in the Southeast were surveyed to examine religion, race, social class, and gender differences in dating and hooking up. Our analyses revealed that dating and hooking up coexist on campus and most students defined hooking up as a sexual encounter. Race impacted dating but the other demographics, social class and gender were not significant for either dating or hooking up. Conservative Protestants hooked up less than Catholics and other Protestants. Seniors have dated and hooked up more than other students, especially freshmen. How students define hooking up impacts their probability of hooking up and their feelings after hooking up also have an effect.

Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful for the assistance provided by Emily Eisenhart.

Notes

*p < .05; **p < .01; ***p < .001.

^a Students who stated that they had never hooked up were removed from regression.

*p < .05; **p < .01; ***p < .001.