Correlates of Sexual Behaviors and Attitudes of College Students Engaging in One Night Stands

The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between attitudes and behaviors related to engagement in “one night stands” among sexually active undergraduates. We surveyed 404 undergraduate college students at a large Southeastern university using an anonymous questionnaire. The average age of participants was 20.5 years and the majority were female (68.7%) and white (78.9%). Of the students surveyed, 71.6% report having ever had sex. Of these, over 43% report ever having a one night stand. Those who report having a one night stand are more likely to initiate sexual behavior at a younger age (p=0.006) and to report using drugs or alcohol the “last time” (OR=8.799) and “the first time” (OR = 3.22) they had sex than those who do not report having a one night stand. Further, those who report having a one night stand are also more likely to have more partners in their lifetimes (p<0.001) and in the last three months (p<0.001) and are twice as likely to “think it is okay” for women to have multiple sexual partners and three times as likely to “think it is okay” for men to have multiple sexual partners than those who have not had a one night stand. Students who engage in risky behaviors are more likely to engage in multiple risky behaviors increasing their risk for STI transmission and unintended pregnancy. Interventions should continue to target this age group to influence changes in attitudes and behaviors of risky sexual activity.