Motivations for Sex among College-Attending Emerging Adults: A Developmental Perspective

Emerging adulthood (ages 18-29) is theorized to be a distinct developmental period in the life course that embodies many unique experiences, including within the realms of sex and sexuality. Sexual activity among emerging adults is well documented; however, limited attention has been given to the association between developmental perceptions and endorsed motivations for sex. This study examined how perceptions of emerging adulthood status are associated with college students’ (N = 1,109) endorsed motivations for sex (i.e., enhancement, intimacy, and coping), after controlling for demographic and known correlates of motivations for sex. Identity exploration, experimentation/possibilities, and negativity/instability were positively associated with enhancement motivations for sex, whereas only identity exploration was positively associated with intimacy motivations for sex. Lastly, negativity/instability was positively associated with coping motivations for sex, and self-focus and feeling “in-between” were negatively associated with coping motivations for sex. Implications for research and sexuality education for emerging adult populations are discussed.