Sex+on+College+Campuses

Sex on College Campuses

“We hooked up.” Nowadays, this phrase is commonly heard and said on college campuses around the country. According to an article by Heather Certain, 80-90% of college students are sexually active and much of that is done unsafely (2009). In the past, people dated to one day lead to something sexual happening and also were serious about finding a husband or wife. Well, times have changed and people are no longer waiting to be in a relationship to have sex. Having a good time has replaced finding a mate because people realize casual hookups are less work and getting married is something they want much later in life. Though these casual sexual encounters may be fun, they can lead to some serious health-related consequences.
 * Introduction**



A study done with 555 undergraduate participants came across a few things correlating to enagement in sexual activity. They included alcohol, drug use, partner attractiveness, depressive symptoms, peer influences, impulsivity, sexual desire, physical pleasure and previous experiences (Gute, 2008). All of these different things influence why young people in college engage in sexual behavior. In that study, out of the 555 participants, 47% of men and 33% of women had sexual intercourse when hooking up with someone. One of the main influences of this behavior is **alcohol**. Most students at one point or another drink alcohol and according to the study, 20-50% of students are actually heavy drinkers (Gute, 2008). Not only does alcohol consumption lead to more incidences of having sex, but it also leads to more sexual partners and higher-risk sexual behavior.
 * Predictors of Sexual Activity**

Personality is also a major predictor of sexual activity. The personality trait most associated with risky sexual behavior and more incidences of having sex is someone who is impulsive, a sensation-seeker and cannot sit still. According to Gute, the human personality can be represented by what he calls “The Big Five,” which consists of Neuroticism, Extraversion, Openness to Experience, Agreeableness and Conscientiousness. These 5 traits can help predict if someone’s personality makes them more prone to engage in certain behaviors. For example, low agreeableness, low openness to experience and high extraversion are predictors for many risky sexual behaviors and someone with hgh neuroticism and low conscientiousness has a higher predictor for unprotected sex.

According to Heather Certain, there are 19 million sexually transmitted infections diagnosed each year (2009). Of those 19 million, people under the age of 25 account for almost half of them. STIs can be affiliated with things as extreme as infertility, cervical cancer, pelvic inflammatory disease and the contraction of HIV/AIDS (Certain, 2009). Only 26% of college students report using a condom and because of this 14% of HIV diagnoses were to people under 25, women ages 18-24 have the highest rate of unintended pregnancies and over half of women who get an abortion are under 25. A study found that due to the heavy consumption of alcohol by college students, it led to a decreased use in condom use, which is leading to such an increase in STIs. In 2006, it was reported that 2,797 out of 100,000 women ages 20-24 had chlamydia, which is the most common STI.
 * Consequences of Risky Sexual Behavior**

Nowadays, it has become more and more apparent that finding a husband or wife is not a priority. It used to be “courting” someone was the norm. People would meet, go on dates, become in a monogamous relationship, stay together for awhile, and then engage in sexual intercourse if not wait until marriage. Because people know you don’t have to go about it in this way anymore and it has become easier, they are doing it more often and with more people. Women, in particular, have grown more independent than in the past and have found a new empowerment they never felt before. Though not always used, contraceptives are also easier to access these days. Many scholars argue whether this new viewpoint is good or bad. Some believe this is a distorted view of liberation while others believe young people will turn out just fine and ultimately will get married one day in the future when they think their career and lifestyle is where they want it.
 * Sex but No Relationship**

With all of the alcohol consumption and risky behavior going on on college campuses, is there communication between sexual partners? Many find that communication is pretty low, especially because so many sexual encounters happen with an acquaintance or someone you are not in a relationship with. According to a study by Kenneth Davidson, communication with sexual partners was not very good. Asking their partner how many sexual partners they have had in the past was not very likely and asking if their partner had an STI was also not very likely. This lack of communication is also a major cause for the serious consequences that may happen when engaging in risky sexual activity.
 * Communication: Is it even there?**

If engaging in sexual activity in college, there are ways to go about it without putting yourself at risk or being unsafe. According to plannedparenthood.org, here are some key pointers to engage in safe sex: 1) Always use a condom. 2) Go to the doctor for regular STI check-ups and ask them any questions you might have about sexual health. 3) Ask your partner if they have been checked for STIs and if unsure do not engage in sexual intercourse.
 * Advice for Future Safety**

Certain, H., Harahan, B., & Saewyc, E. (2009). Condom Use in Heavy Drinking College Students: The Importance of Always Using Condoms. //Journal of American College Health//, 58(3), 187-194. Davidson, J., Moore, N., & Earle, J. (2008). Sexual Attitudes and Behavior at Four Universities: Do Region, Race, and/or Religion matter? //Adolescence//, 43(170), 189-220. Gute, G., & Eshbaugh, E. (2008). Personality as a Predictor of Hooking Up Among College Students. //Journal of Community Health Nursing,// 25(1), 26-43. Safer Sex ('Safe Sex'). (2011). Retrieved from []. Wilke, D., Siebert, D., & Delva, J. (2005). Gender differences in predicting high-risk drinking among undergraduate students. //Journal of Drug Education//, 35 (1), 79-94. Wilson, Brenda. (2009). Sex Without Intimacy: No Dating, No Relationships. Retrieved from [|http://www.npr.org/templates/story /story.php?storyId=105008712].
 * References**