Casual Sex: Integrating Social, Behavioral, and Sexual Health Research

Abstract

While sexuality scholars have long been interested in questions of the relational context of sexual activity, the last decade has witnessed an abundance of research on the topic of casual sex. This research has focused on the context of sexual activity between individuals not in a romantic relationship. Various forms of uncommitted or “casual” sexual activity have been identified, from hook-ups to friends with benefits, resulting in a new research agenda that speaks to the sexual lives of youth today. We attempt to reconcile the casual sex research in the social and behavioral sciences with that in public health, to develop a deeper and more holistic understanding of sexual health across relationship contexts.