Article
Risky business: Is there an association between casual sex and mental health among emerging adults?
Journal of Sex Research
(2014)
Abstract
A multiethnic sample of single, heterosexual, emerging-adult college students (N = 3,907) ages 18 to 25, from 30 institutions across the United States, participated in a study about identity, culture, psychological well-being, and risky behaviors. Given ongoing debates about the connection between casual sex and psychological adjustment, in the current study we assessed the cross-sectional association of participation in casual sex with psychological well-being and distress. A greater proportion of men (18.6%) compared to women (7.4%) reported having had casual sex in the month prior to assessment. Structural equation modeling indicated that casual sex was negatively associated with well-being (ß = .20,p < .001) and positively associated with psychological distress (ß = .16,p < .001). Gender did not moderate these associations. For emerging-adult college students, engaging in casual sex may elevate risk for negative psychological outcomes.
Disciplines
Publication Date
2014
DOI
10.1080/00224499.2013.772088
Citation Information
Melina M. Bersamin, Byron L. Zamboanga, Seth J. Schwartz, M. Brent Donnellan, et al.. "Risky business: Is there an association between casual sex and mental health among emerging adults?" Journal of Sex Research Vol. 51 Iss. 1 (2014) p. 43 - 51 Available at: http://works.bepress.com/rob-weisskirch/5/