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Sex, Commitment, and Casual Sex Relationships Among College Men: A Mixed-Methods Analysis

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Abstract

Using a sample of 200 emerging adult male college students, we examined how men varied in the meanings they gave to sex and their self-reported engagement in two types of casual sex relationships (hookups and friends with benefits). Using qualitative methods, we conducted a content analysis of men’s written responses to a series of questions about the meanings they ascribed to sex (i.e., intercourse), their perceived connection between sex and commitment, and how they believed these meanings were related to their sexual behavior. Three groups of men emerged: Committers, Flexibles, and Recreationers. Groups were then compared on social desirability, demographic characteristics (e.g., race/ethnicity, year in school, religious service attendance), and self-reported casual sexual behaviors in the past 12 months. Analyses showed that men in the Flexibles and Recreationers groups engaged in significantly more hookups and had significantly more friends with benefits partners in the past 12 months than did men in the Committers group. Implications for relationship education intervention aimed at men and research on casual sex relationships are discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Child and Family Studies, College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, 37996-1912, USA

    Spencer B. Olmstead, Rhett M. Billen & Kathryn A. Conrad

  2. Department of Family & Child Sciences, College of Human Sciences, The Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, USA

    Kay Pasley

  3. The FSU Family Institute, The Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, USA

    Frank D. Fincham

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  1. Spencer B. Olmstead
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  2. Rhett M. Billen
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  3. Kathryn A. Conrad
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  4. Kay Pasley
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  5. Frank D. Fincham
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Correspondence to Spencer B. Olmstead.

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Olmstead, S.B., Billen, R.M., Conrad, K.A. et al. Sex, Commitment, and Casual Sex Relationships Among College Men: A Mixed-Methods Analysis. Arch Sex Behav 42, 561–571 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-012-0047-z

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