The majority of past work on hooking up among emerging adults uses a researcher-led definition and often uses college student samples. Most definitions included behaviors However, considerable variation in definitions within these categories was identified, in particular with reference to commitment.
In our sample, definitions attended to what a hook "is" and "is not" as it relates to commitment. Hookup characteristics were also discussed in definitions, including frequency of hooking up, decision making, sexual health and safety, and purposes for hookups. Participants regularly referenced other common terms in relation to hooking up, including one-night stands, casual sex, no strings attached, and friends with benefits.
For some, hookups were similar to these other types of casual sex experiences, whereas for others hooking up was distinct. Although some proportional differences were found, in general men and women and college-attending and non-college emerging adults defined hookups in similar ways.
Programming focused on emerging adult romantic and sexual relationship education would benefit from addressing these subtle, but meaningful variations, as individuals enact hookup scripts based on how they define their encounters. Future opportunities for research to integrate both researcher-led and participant-led definitions of hooking up are discussed.
Abstract The majority of past work on hooking up among emerging adults uses a researcher-led definition and often uses college student samples.
