College Student Sexuality: Statistics, Trends, and Behaviors
College is a transformative period where students expand their intellectual horizons and explore various aspects of life, including intimacy and sexuality. Studies and surveys provide valuable insights into the sexual behaviors, attitudes, and experiences of college students. This article examines various statistics and trends related to college student sexuality, including sexual activity, contraception use, sexting, and the provision of sexual services for compensation.
Sexual Activity on College Campuses
Several studies have explored the frequency of intercourse, the most sexually active campuses, the average number of partners, and the use of protection among college students. Temple University, located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, has been identified as the most sexually active campus. Rutgers University in New Jersey, along with three Florida schools - Florida State University, the University of Central Florida, and the University of Florida - also have a reputation for a friskier student body. Other notable colleges and universities with sexually active students include Cornell University, Michigan State University, and the University of Connecticut.
According to a survey, men reported having an average of about 14 sexual partners, while women reported fewer than 12. However, during their time in college, both men and women averaged close to 5 unique sexual encounters. This suggests that college years account for a significant portion of students' overall sexual experiences. For women, nearly 43% of their total number of sexual partners come from their time at college or university, while for men, it represents 35% of their total sexual experiences.
Sexual Encounters at the University of Michigan
According to the demographic results of the survey, 27% of respondents were freshmen, 17% were sophomores, 24% were juniors, 19% were seniors and 13% were graduate students or higher. In regards to gender identity, 58% of respondents were women, 36% were men, 3% were nonbinary, 2% were Genderqueer and 1% identified as other. This semester, 61% of students at the University of Michigan have engaged in sexual activity, a slight decrease from the previous year. While the majority of the campus was getting down and dirty, 39% of students were embracing a sex-free semester. More than half of the freshman class has been entirely celibate in their first semester at the University. Architecture students appear to be particularly sexually active, with 77% reporting having had sex this semester. On the other hand, 50% of Kinesiology students haven't had sex all semester.
According to the survey, 99% of the student body believes sex to be penetrative, and 44% think sex consists of other genital contact. The majority of students believe you can only give affirmative consent while sober, with 59% of students also saying a verbal “yes” is the only way to consent to sexual activity. Eighty-five percent of students believe that hooking up is synonymous with penetrative sex, 54% of students believe it entails heavy petting and 39% consider it to mean making out. While 65% of students identified the relationship with their sexual partner or partners as exclusive, 19% of students indicated that they were in a casual relationship.
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Fourteen percent of students said they would be willing to travel from Central Campus to North Campus for sexual purposes. Of the female respondents, 64% attested to faking sexual satisfaction, while 57% of male respondents have never once faked an orgasm. 72% of students said they first learned about sex from the internet and social media as opposed to more formal resources, such as medical professionals or school environments. Thirty-four percent of students regularly discuss their sexual escapades with their friends, and 43% sometimes discuss sexual topics with their friends.
Contraception and Safe Sex Practices
Using contraceptives during sex is crucial for preventing unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). However, a survey revealed that over 15% of respondents shared they never use a condom. Those who reported not using a condom also had close to 18 partners on average versus almost 13 partners for those who always use protection. This highlights the importance of promoting safe sex practices and providing comprehensive sex education to college students.
Sexting Among College Students
Sexting, defined as sending sexually explicit materials through mobile phones, is a prevalent behavior among teenagers and college students. A study found that 24% of high-school age teens (ages 14 to 17) and 33% of college-age students (ages 18 to 24) have been involved in a form of nude sexting. Teenage girls participate in sexting for various reasons, including as a joke (40%), to feel sexy (34%), and due to pressure (12%). It's important to note that sending or receiving a sexually suggestive text or image under the age of 18 is considered child pornography and can result in criminal charges.
Sexual Services, Acts, and Materials for Pay (SSAMP)
There is a growing recognition that university students provide sexual services, acts, and materials for pay or financial compensation (SSAMP). SSAMP is associated with a vulnerability to sexual and physical victimization and increased risk for sexual risk behaviors/sexually transmitted infections (STIs), substance use, and mental health problems. A study conducted at a public, Midwestern university surveyed 875 undergraduate and graduate students and found that 13.7% reported any SSAMP. These students were more likely to be first-generation university students, trans or nonbinary, LGBQ+, disabled, and reported difficulty meeting basic needs.
Among those who provided SSAMP, 42% reported feeling personally empowered, but about a third reported doing so to please someone and/or because they were pressured in a way that they could not say no, most commonly by an intimate partner. Half reported receiving compensation for basic needs. Students reported using harm-reduction strategies to provide SSAMP and experiencing diverse consequences such as increased self-esteem or confidence (27.6%), discovering aspects of sexuality (26.5%), worse mental health (25.5%), difficulty dating (25.3%), feeling fetishized (23.5%), and unwanted sexual contact (22.3%).
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The SSAMP measure included various acts, such as selling personal items, sending or posting nude photos online, sexting, providing online sexual companionship, webcamming, dancing erotically or stripping, going on in-person dates or providing companionship, having sexual contact, and having intercourse. The reasons for engaging in SSAMP included avoiding debt, being pressured, pleasing someone, feeling empowered, having spending money, paying tuition, paying living expenses, reclaiming one's body after violence, and seeking pleasure.
Technology's Impact on Sexual Behavior
The poll of 10,000 college students conducted by campus-based apps Yik Yak and Sidechat revealed some surprising results about their sex lives. More than a third said they’ve checked their phone or scrolled social media during sex. And 24 students admitted to stopping, mid-sex, to text their moms. Although the Gen Z students in the poll remained plugged in, most said they met their current or most recent partner the old fashioned way - in person. More than 70% said they met in person, while just 29% said they met online.
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