Parties, Drugs, and High School Hookups: Socioemotional Challenges for European and Mexican American Adolescents

Lela Williams, Heidi L. Adams

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

8 Scopus citations

Abstract

Although uncommitted sexual relationships have become increasingly accepted by adolescents, the contexts and socioemotional consequences of these relationships are unknown, particularly among Mexican American youths. Using focus group methodology, we explored the dating experiences of Mexican and European American male and female middle adolescents and found that "hookups" are a salient dating experience that generally occurs in the context of substance use and parties. Females, particularly Mexican American, were more likely to hold mismatched expectations of their desire for a hookup to transition into a more committed type of relationship. A feminist developmental lens is invoked in the discussion of the findings.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)240-255
Number of pages16
JournalAffilia - Journal of Women and Social Work
Volume28
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 2013

Keywords

  • alcohol use
  • casual relationships
  • dating
  • focus groups
  • gender

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Gender Studies
  • Social Sciences (miscellaneous)

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