Hook Up Culture: Changing the Structure of Future Relationships?

Hook up culture is a relatively new phenomenon that is reported to be occurring rampantly on college campuses across the nation. Research tends to focus on the negative implications of hook up culture and the impact it has on college students\u27 well-being. There is limited research exploring if hook up behavior in college is influencing relationship structure in later life, as would be demonstrated by individuals engaging in consensual non-monogamy practices. The present study examined college students\u27 relationship practices to assess if their current relationship status and relationship practices in the past year align with their ideal, future relationship. Results indicate that the overwhelming majority of participants ideally want to become monogamously partnered in the future, regardless of their current relationship practices. Overall these findings indicate that hook up behavior in college is an experiential stage that does not sway college students\u27 ideal relationship preferences