As Associate Professor Who teaches A very large category of human sexuality At the University of Washington, I often came into contact with young people’s inner thoughts and desires about interpersonal relationships and sex, which benefited me a lot.

Recently, I conducted an online poll and asked my students what they expected each person to return to campus for the fall semester. Nearly three-quarters (73%) said they expected to engage in more hook-ups and casual sex, and 94% agreed that there would be more hook-ups among other students than before the pandemic.

I agree with my student’s prediction.on My Instagram account, I often ask people about their sexual concepts and attitudes, and memes like “Vaxxed and Waxed” and “Hot Vax Summer” are flying. It seems that many people are ready for the party.

Can past disasters reveal whether people’s sexual behavior will have a big rebound effect? Are we about to enter the roaring 2021?

Celebrate after the pandemic

It is difficult to predict how the end of the pandemic will affect people’s sexual behavior. Comparing this period with the roaring 1920s, we ignore the fact that the era of flapper dresses and underground bars not only began with the end of the deadly influenza pandemic in 1918, but also with the end of the World War. Unlike COVID-19, the 1918 flu mainly affected young people. Therefore, despite the trauma in the past year, the current mood may not be as ecstatic as inviting similar celebrations.

Study past human disasters and natural disasters, such as earthquake, hurricane with September 11 The terrorist attack subsequently found that the number of childbirths increased, the time between pregnancy was shortened, and the risk of sex increased, such as sex without a condom. But these studies are applicable to specific disasters and narrow demographic data, so it is difficult to generalize their findings.

Consider condomless sex. If anything, the pandemic seems to make people more careful in protecting themselves from infection and disease. In my opinion, the idea that sexual adventures will increase is a bit hard to imagine.

From a broader and more philosophical perspective, research Terror management theory It shows that when the death rate of human beings becomes prominent, the pandemic has obviously achieved this, and people will experience a sense of survival fear, and they will do their best to fight it out.

In other words, by reminding humans of the fragility of life, humans will respond by doing something, anything, to establish that our life is important-even after we die, our influence as life will continue to exist.

Sex, because of its internal connection with fertility, may be a natural solution that makes you feel like you will “live” at least in an abstract sense.In fact, studies have found that, especially for men, the significant response to mortality is Engage in more condom-free sex.

Why this is good news

If the wave of sexual activity does happen, it will have a profound impact on all areas of young people’s lives. Returning to a normal life will definitely alleviate the loneliness caused by isolation and isolation for one year. But when the sex gate is reopened, what will really happen? What types of emotional and physical influences may young people need to deal with?

First, some good news. If the sexual revolution hits college campuses in the fall, strong research suggests that it may bring both physical and emotional benefits.Large-scale longitudinal studies have shown that people who participate in regular activities enjoy Improve emotional health, improve cardiovascular health and reduce morbidity. Also found regular sexual activity Reduce cognitive decline in the elderly.

This does not deny the fact that casual sex will increase the risk of sexually transmitted infections and unintended pregnancy. Obviously, public policy should encourage safe sex and comprehensive sex education. However, despite the fact that students often receive “less is better” information about sex, it turns out that there may be risks in not having sex.

The emotional impact of casual sex

How does casual sex affect everyone’s emotions?First of all, despite media hints, the prevalence of casual sex, that is, having sex between two people who do not intend to establish a loyal relationship, is FallingAlthough researchers do not fully understand the reasons for this decline, early research results indicate that young people are drinking less. Especially for young men, increased use of video games and living at home with their parents are also negatively correlated with casual sexual relationships. Perhaps the last point is not surprising.

So, should the end of the pandemic reverse this downward trend, as many people believe, and what impact will emotions have? Public discourse and speculation among the media indicate that sexual contact outside of the promised relationship may cause emotional harm. However, the evidence here is indeed mixed.Some studies have shown Zero correlation between mental health And casual sex.However, others believe that casual sex is Negatively correlated with mental health And it is positively correlated with psychological distress.

Research also shows that for women, especially casual sex May be emotionally risky And with increased alcohol and drug. The last point of asymmetry may be due to gender norms, because women are usually Feel ashamed of engaging in casual sex and usually encourage men.

The mixed results of these studies indicate that there must be some differentiating factors that make some hookups lead to happiness, while others lead to despair. Of course, the question is only what this variable might be. Recently, researchers have proposed, This may boil down to a motivation issue. This idea borrows something called Self-determination theory, Which shows that people are most satisfied with their choices when they feel that they make choices freely and autonomously.

In the context of casual sex, Autonomous connection It is a desire for fun or sexual adventure and satisfaction. On the contrary, arbitrary sexual behaviors initiated out of the desire to persuade the other party to establish a loyal relationship or retaliate against their predecessors are not autonomous, because they are motivated by ulterior motives.

In fact, research has shown that voluntary casual sex can bring positive feelings and can even improve academic performance. On the other hand, involuntary connections can cause pain or suffering.

So where does this make young people eager to hook up? How can I best use the results of these studies to provide advice to my students? My message will be clear. If your goal is sexual adventure and satisfaction, then as long as you use a condom, you can enjoy all the casual sex you want. If you prefer to avoid or enjoy sex only in a relationship, then these are also good options. However, let us not judge or humiliate the sexual choices of others, especially women. Have fun, but be safe.

Nicole K. McNichols, Associate Professor of Psychology, Washington University

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