Alcohol Use, Hooking-Up, Condom Use: Is There a Sexual Double Standard?

OBJECTIVES: The purposes of the study were to: (1) identify judgments college students make of peers based on descriptions of drinking, hooking-up, and condom use behaviors; and (2) determine whether participants' judgments differed based on the sex of the person described. METHODS: Participants (N = 574 college students) completed an online questionnaire that included one of 8 different vignettes (4 vignette types, female or male model). Participants evaluated statements, comprising 3 scales (likability, positive character, negative behavior) relative to the model depicted in the vignette. RESULTS: For female participants, significant effects for vignette type for all 3 scales and significant effects for model sex (negative behavior) were revealed. Male participants only showed significant effects for vignette type for positive character traits. CONCLUSIONS: Results should be of value to college level health educators and considered by those involved in drinking behavior and sexual health programming on college campuses.