Sexual Activity among College Students Living in Residence Halls and Fraternity or Sorority Housing

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of high-risk sexual behaviors among college students at a midwestern university. The sexual behaviors portion of the National College Health Risk Behavior Survey was used to collect data from 735 university students who were 18 years of age or older, never married, and lived in residence halls or in fraternity/sorority (F/S) housing. The independent variables for analysis were gender, residence, and F/S affiliation. The dependent variables were the various sexual behaviors (e.g., number of lifetime sexual partners, condom use, alcohol/drug use prior to sexual intercourse, etc.). The majority of the students (n = 634, 86.3%) had experienced sexual intercourse. Students living in F/S housing had more lifetime sexual intercourse partners and engaged in more sexual activity during the 30 days preceding the survey than students living in the residence halls. F/S members were more likely to use alcohol and/or drugs prior to last sexual intercourse than nonmembers. Overall, students in this study reported fewer lifetime sexual intercourse partners, more current sexual activity, and more consistent condom use than students nationally. Students in the study used alcohol and/or drugs prior to last sexual intercourse at more than two times the nationally reported figure.