Defining Hooking-Up: Anything from Kissing to Sex?

This study used 727 participants\u27 survey responses to analyze definitions of hooking-up as well as look at differing definitions with regards to gender. Respondents were asked to report whether specific sexual behaviors represented hooking-up or not. Participants were asked to respond the question: If this were the only behavior that happened between two people, ________________ would be considered a hook-up. Frequencies of sexual behaviors being reported as hooking-up were analyzed. Gender difference between frequency of positive reports were found in the activities of fondling-clothes off, fondling-under clothes, deep kissing without tongue, and spending the night. For all of these activities, women reported the behavior to be a hook-up with higher frequency than men. (Editor’s Note: This presentation may contain adult themes, content, or imagery.