Papers by Snezana Zhana Vrangalova
Social and Personality Psychology Science
Casual sex has become a normative experience among young people, raising concerns regarding its w... more Casual sex has become a normative experience among young people, raising concerns regarding its wellbeing consequences. Prior findings regarding main effects of casual sex on wellbeing are mixed, suggesting possible moderating factors. Using longitudinal and weekly diary methodologies, this study examined the moderating influence of sociosexuality, a stable personality orientation toward casual sex, on psychological wellbeing (self-esteem, life satisfaction, depression, and anxiety) following penetrative (oral, vaginal, or anal) casual sex among single undergraduates. As predicted, sociosexuality moderated the effect of casual sex on wellbeing on a weekly basis across 12 consecutive weeks, over one semester, and over one academic year. Sociosexually unrestricted students typically reported higher wellbeing after having casual sex compared to not having casual sex; there were no such differences among restricted individuals. Few gender differences were found. Findings are discussed in terms of authenticity in one’s sexual behaviors.
Journal of Sex Research
"Hooking up (sex outside committed, romantic relationships) is feared to result from or lead to c... more "Hooking up (sex outside committed, romantic relationships) is feared to result from or lead to compromised psychological wellbeing among undergraduates; yet longitudinal evidence is
scarce and inconclusive, and different hookup definitions complicate cross-study comparisons. This study examined short-term longitudinal associations with four wellbeing indicators
(depression, anxiety, life satisfaction, and self-esteem) across several definitions of hookups based on relationship length (one-time, longer casual, and any) and physical intimacy level
(kissing, genital touching, oral sex, and intercourse). A university-wide sample of 666 Northeastern U.S. freshmen and juniors (63% female, 68% White) completed online surveys at
beginning and end of one academic semester. Linear and logistic regressions explored whether hookups over the semester were linked to later wellbeing, and whether initial wellbeing was linked to later hookups. Across all 96 regressions, statistically significant associations between wellbeing and hookups were infrequent (23%), predominantly confined to anxiety and life satisfaction, equally likely in the direction of higher (13%) as lower (10%) wellbeing, and affected by both casual relationship length and intimacy level. When gender differences emerged (11%), hookups were associated with higher wellbeing for women and lower wellbeing for men. This complex set of results points to the importance of researchers’ choices in hookup definitions."
Engagement in casual sex (or hooking up) is generally feared to have negative well-being conseque... more Engagement in casual sex (or hooking up) is generally feared to have negative well-being consequences; however, empirical evidence is inconclusive, pointing toward potential moderators. Using self-determination theory (SDT), we hypothesized that well-being following hookups would depend on the type and level of motivation for hooking up. A university-wide sample of 528 undergraduates completed online surveys at the beginning (T1) and end (T3) of one academic year. After controlling for demographics, personality traits (i.e., neuroticism and extraversion), prior casual and romantic sex, and T1 well-being, having genital hookups between T1 and T3 for non-autonomous reasons (i.e., due to self-imposed pressures, external contingencies and controls, or complete lack of intentionality) was linked to lower self-esteem, higher depression and anxiety, and more physical symptoms. Autonomous hookup motivation (i.e., emanating from one’s self) was not linked to any outcomes. Compared to peers without hookups, those with high non-autonomy in their hookups typically had inferior well-being; this was not true of those with low non-autonomy hookups. Gender differences, implications for SDT and casual sex research, and implications for educational programs and clinical work are discussed.
We reviewed whether mostly heterosexuals, a sexual orientation group characterized by a small amo... more We reviewed whether mostly heterosexuals, a sexual orientation group characterized by a small amount of same-sex sexuality, differ from heterosexuals and bisexuals on a variety of mental and
physical health outcomes (e.g., internalizing problems, body dissatisfaction and disordered eating, obesity, sexual/reproductive health, physical health), health risk behaviors (e.g., substance use, sexual risk taking), and risk and protective factors (e.g., victimization, stressful/risky environment, SES, personal and social relationships, gender nonconformity). A narrative and quantitative literature review was conducted of 60 papers covering 22 samples
from five Western countries. Individual, mean, and median effect sizes (Cohen ds) were calculated whenever possible. Mostly heterosexuals reported higher levels of risk in most reviewed outcomes compared to heterosexuals (unweighted mean effect sizes range from 0.20 to 0.50), but typically somewhat lower than bisexuals (unweighted mean effect sizes range from - 0.10 to -0.30). Various risk factors frequently reduced, but rarely eliminated, health disparities between mostly heterosexuals and heterosexuals. Findings are discussed through the lens of three
potential explanations of elevated health risks among nonheterosexuals: minority stress, nonheterosexual lifestyles, and common causes. Because data on many outcomes were scarce or
missing, particularly for men and in comparison with bisexuals, further research is needed.
Prior research typically finds that sexually permissive individuals are judged more negatively th... more Prior research typically finds that sexually permissive individuals are judged more negatively than nonpermissive peers, placing them at elevated risks for social and emotional problems. Guided by the principle of positive assortment (i.e., preferences for similarity in attributes in close relationships), we examined whether participants’ own permissiveness mitigated negative judgments of permissive others in the context of same-sex friendships. In an online study, college students (N = 751) evaluated a hypothetical same-sex target with either 2 (nonpermissive) or 20 (permissive) past sex partners on 10 friendship-relevant outcomes. Participant permissiveness attenuated some negative evaluations, suggesting a role of permissiveness-based positive assortment in same-sex friendships. However, preferences were rarely reversed, and no moderation was found in half of the outcomes, suggesting this role is limited, and evolutionary concerns may take precedence. Partial support for the sexual double standard was also found, contributing to an ongoing debate regarding its existence in contemporary cultures.
We reviewed empirical evidence regarding whether mostly heterosexual exists as a sexual orientati... more We reviewed empirical evidence regarding whether mostly heterosexual exists as a sexual orientation distinct from two adjacent groups on a sexual continuum—exclusively heterosexual and substantially bisexual. We addressed the question: Do mostly
heterosexuals show a unique profile of sexual and romantic characteristics that distinguishes them as a separate sexual orientation group? We found sufficient data in four areas to support an affirmative answer. Individuals who acknowledged a mostly heterosexual orientation were distinct from adjacent sexual orientation groups in having a small degree of same-sex sexual and/or romantic attraction and, occasionally, same-sex behavior; constituted a substantial prevalence in the population; were relatively stable in their orientation over time; and reported that this sexual identity was subjectively meaningful to them. Findings suggested that self-identification as mostly heterosexual or an acknowledgment of slight same-sex sexuality increases during the teenage years, peaks around the early twenties (somewhat sooner for men than women), and remains relatively high during young adulthood. Limited evidence suggested that prevalence is lower among older participants. These findings have implications for our conceptualization of sexual orientation as a continuum, the nature of sex differences in sexuality, developmental changes in sexuality,
biologically based assessments of sexual orientation, and an etiological theory of mostly heterosexuality.
Currently, little is known about heterosexually identified individuals who nonetheless acknowledg... more Currently, little is known about heterosexually identified individuals who nonetheless acknowledge same-sex interests. To address this shortcoming, the prevalence of same-sex attractions, fantasies, and experiences among heterosexually identified college students was examined, as well as differences between those who are exclusively heterosexual in their interests and those who are nonexclusive because they report some same-sex attractions or fantasies. Students (N¼243) at a large, Northeastern university completed an online survey providing information about their sexual orientation identity; same- and other-sex attractions, fantasies, and behaviors; and demographic, sexual history, and sexual attitudes variables. Compared to exclusive heterosexual women, nonexclusive women were more liberal in their political and sexual attitudes and had greater sexual experience. Nonexclusive men were virtually indistinguishable from exclusive heterosexual peers on assessed variables. Results are discussed in terms of implications for the nature and meaning of non-heterosexuality in contemporary Western society.
A sample of 1,784 individuals responded to an online survey advertised on the Facebook social net... more A sample of 1,784 individuals responded to an online survey advertised on the Facebook social networking website. We
explored the sexual orientation continuum by focusing on three
components: self-reported sexual orientation identity, sexual
attraction, and sexual partners. Results supported a 5-category
classification of identity (heterosexual, mostly heterosexual,
bisexual, mostly gay/lesbian, gay/lesbian) in that two added
identity labels (mostly heterosexual and mostly gay/lesbian)
were frequently chosen by participants and/or showed unique
patterns of attraction and partners, distinct from their adjacent
identities (heterosexual and bisexual, and bisexual and gay/
lesbian, respectively). Those who reported an exclusive label
(heterosexual, gay/lesbian) were not necessarily exclusive in
other components; a significant minority of heterosexuals and
the majority of gays/lesbians reported some attraction and/or
partners toward their nonpreferred sex.The five identity groups
differed in attraction and partners in a manner consistent with a
continuous, rather than a categorical, distribution of sexual orientation. Findings also supported a sexual orientation continuum as consisting of two, rather than one, distinct dimensions (same and other-sex sexuality). Having more same-sex sexuality did not necessarily imply having less other-sex sexuality, and vice versa. More men than women were at the exclusive ends of the continuum; however, men were not bimodally distributed in that a significant minority reported nonexclusivity in their sexuality.
The link between adolescent sexual activity and psychological well-being is a controversial issue... more The link between adolescent sexual activity and psychological well-being is a controversial issue in developmental psychology. This cross-sectional study investigated the association between three aspects of teenage sexuality (genital sexual experience, age of sexual onset, and number of sex partners) and positive well-being (hedonic, eudaimonic, and overall) in a sample of 475 high
school seniors (48% female; 89% White) from a single school district in a rural upstate New York community. Based on a group-norms perspective, we expected higher well-being in adolescents whose sexual behaviors followed group-normative patterns. As expected, sexually experienced and on-time (at age 16) students reported higher well-being than sexually inexperienced or late-onset (17 or older) students. Contrary to expectations, a high number of sex partners and an early sexual onset (15 or younger) were not related to lower well-being. Early-onset girls reported
higher levels of well-being than normative-onset peers. Findings are discussed in relationship to theoretical perspectives and past empirical findings of teenage sexuality as a developmental asset versus risk.
Books by Snezana Zhana Vrangalova
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Papers by Snezana Zhana Vrangalova
scarce and inconclusive, and different hookup definitions complicate cross-study comparisons. This study examined short-term longitudinal associations with four wellbeing indicators
(depression, anxiety, life satisfaction, and self-esteem) across several definitions of hookups based on relationship length (one-time, longer casual, and any) and physical intimacy level
(kissing, genital touching, oral sex, and intercourse). A university-wide sample of 666 Northeastern U.S. freshmen and juniors (63% female, 68% White) completed online surveys at
beginning and end of one academic semester. Linear and logistic regressions explored whether hookups over the semester were linked to later wellbeing, and whether initial wellbeing was linked to later hookups. Across all 96 regressions, statistically significant associations between wellbeing and hookups were infrequent (23%), predominantly confined to anxiety and life satisfaction, equally likely in the direction of higher (13%) as lower (10%) wellbeing, and affected by both casual relationship length and intimacy level. When gender differences emerged (11%), hookups were associated with higher wellbeing for women and lower wellbeing for men. This complex set of results points to the importance of researchers’ choices in hookup definitions."
physical health outcomes (e.g., internalizing problems, body dissatisfaction and disordered eating, obesity, sexual/reproductive health, physical health), health risk behaviors (e.g., substance use, sexual risk taking), and risk and protective factors (e.g., victimization, stressful/risky environment, SES, personal and social relationships, gender nonconformity). A narrative and quantitative literature review was conducted of 60 papers covering 22 samples
from five Western countries. Individual, mean, and median effect sizes (Cohen ds) were calculated whenever possible. Mostly heterosexuals reported higher levels of risk in most reviewed outcomes compared to heterosexuals (unweighted mean effect sizes range from 0.20 to 0.50), but typically somewhat lower than bisexuals (unweighted mean effect sizes range from - 0.10 to -0.30). Various risk factors frequently reduced, but rarely eliminated, health disparities between mostly heterosexuals and heterosexuals. Findings are discussed through the lens of three
potential explanations of elevated health risks among nonheterosexuals: minority stress, nonheterosexual lifestyles, and common causes. Because data on many outcomes were scarce or
missing, particularly for men and in comparison with bisexuals, further research is needed.
heterosexuals show a unique profile of sexual and romantic characteristics that distinguishes them as a separate sexual orientation group? We found sufficient data in four areas to support an affirmative answer. Individuals who acknowledged a mostly heterosexual orientation were distinct from adjacent sexual orientation groups in having a small degree of same-sex sexual and/or romantic attraction and, occasionally, same-sex behavior; constituted a substantial prevalence in the population; were relatively stable in their orientation over time; and reported that this sexual identity was subjectively meaningful to them. Findings suggested that self-identification as mostly heterosexual or an acknowledgment of slight same-sex sexuality increases during the teenage years, peaks around the early twenties (somewhat sooner for men than women), and remains relatively high during young adulthood. Limited evidence suggested that prevalence is lower among older participants. These findings have implications for our conceptualization of sexual orientation as a continuum, the nature of sex differences in sexuality, developmental changes in sexuality,
biologically based assessments of sexual orientation, and an etiological theory of mostly heterosexuality.
explored the sexual orientation continuum by focusing on three
components: self-reported sexual orientation identity, sexual
attraction, and sexual partners. Results supported a 5-category
classification of identity (heterosexual, mostly heterosexual,
bisexual, mostly gay/lesbian, gay/lesbian) in that two added
identity labels (mostly heterosexual and mostly gay/lesbian)
were frequently chosen by participants and/or showed unique
patterns of attraction and partners, distinct from their adjacent
identities (heterosexual and bisexual, and bisexual and gay/
lesbian, respectively). Those who reported an exclusive label
(heterosexual, gay/lesbian) were not necessarily exclusive in
other components; a significant minority of heterosexuals and
the majority of gays/lesbians reported some attraction and/or
partners toward their nonpreferred sex.The five identity groups
differed in attraction and partners in a manner consistent with a
continuous, rather than a categorical, distribution of sexual orientation. Findings also supported a sexual orientation continuum as consisting of two, rather than one, distinct dimensions (same and other-sex sexuality). Having more same-sex sexuality did not necessarily imply having less other-sex sexuality, and vice versa. More men than women were at the exclusive ends of the continuum; however, men were not bimodally distributed in that a significant minority reported nonexclusivity in their sexuality.
school seniors (48% female; 89% White) from a single school district in a rural upstate New York community. Based on a group-norms perspective, we expected higher well-being in adolescents whose sexual behaviors followed group-normative patterns. As expected, sexually experienced and on-time (at age 16) students reported higher well-being than sexually inexperienced or late-onset (17 or older) students. Contrary to expectations, a high number of sex partners and an early sexual onset (15 or younger) were not related to lower well-being. Early-onset girls reported
higher levels of well-being than normative-onset peers. Findings are discussed in relationship to theoretical perspectives and past empirical findings of teenage sexuality as a developmental asset versus risk.
Books by Snezana Zhana Vrangalova
scarce and inconclusive, and different hookup definitions complicate cross-study comparisons. This study examined short-term longitudinal associations with four wellbeing indicators
(depression, anxiety, life satisfaction, and self-esteem) across several definitions of hookups based on relationship length (one-time, longer casual, and any) and physical intimacy level
(kissing, genital touching, oral sex, and intercourse). A university-wide sample of 666 Northeastern U.S. freshmen and juniors (63% female, 68% White) completed online surveys at
beginning and end of one academic semester. Linear and logistic regressions explored whether hookups over the semester were linked to later wellbeing, and whether initial wellbeing was linked to later hookups. Across all 96 regressions, statistically significant associations between wellbeing and hookups were infrequent (23%), predominantly confined to anxiety and life satisfaction, equally likely in the direction of higher (13%) as lower (10%) wellbeing, and affected by both casual relationship length and intimacy level. When gender differences emerged (11%), hookups were associated with higher wellbeing for women and lower wellbeing for men. This complex set of results points to the importance of researchers’ choices in hookup definitions."
physical health outcomes (e.g., internalizing problems, body dissatisfaction and disordered eating, obesity, sexual/reproductive health, physical health), health risk behaviors (e.g., substance use, sexual risk taking), and risk and protective factors (e.g., victimization, stressful/risky environment, SES, personal and social relationships, gender nonconformity). A narrative and quantitative literature review was conducted of 60 papers covering 22 samples
from five Western countries. Individual, mean, and median effect sizes (Cohen ds) were calculated whenever possible. Mostly heterosexuals reported higher levels of risk in most reviewed outcomes compared to heterosexuals (unweighted mean effect sizes range from 0.20 to 0.50), but typically somewhat lower than bisexuals (unweighted mean effect sizes range from - 0.10 to -0.30). Various risk factors frequently reduced, but rarely eliminated, health disparities between mostly heterosexuals and heterosexuals. Findings are discussed through the lens of three
potential explanations of elevated health risks among nonheterosexuals: minority stress, nonheterosexual lifestyles, and common causes. Because data on many outcomes were scarce or
missing, particularly for men and in comparison with bisexuals, further research is needed.
heterosexuals show a unique profile of sexual and romantic characteristics that distinguishes them as a separate sexual orientation group? We found sufficient data in four areas to support an affirmative answer. Individuals who acknowledged a mostly heterosexual orientation were distinct from adjacent sexual orientation groups in having a small degree of same-sex sexual and/or romantic attraction and, occasionally, same-sex behavior; constituted a substantial prevalence in the population; were relatively stable in their orientation over time; and reported that this sexual identity was subjectively meaningful to them. Findings suggested that self-identification as mostly heterosexual or an acknowledgment of slight same-sex sexuality increases during the teenage years, peaks around the early twenties (somewhat sooner for men than women), and remains relatively high during young adulthood. Limited evidence suggested that prevalence is lower among older participants. These findings have implications for our conceptualization of sexual orientation as a continuum, the nature of sex differences in sexuality, developmental changes in sexuality,
biologically based assessments of sexual orientation, and an etiological theory of mostly heterosexuality.
explored the sexual orientation continuum by focusing on three
components: self-reported sexual orientation identity, sexual
attraction, and sexual partners. Results supported a 5-category
classification of identity (heterosexual, mostly heterosexual,
bisexual, mostly gay/lesbian, gay/lesbian) in that two added
identity labels (mostly heterosexual and mostly gay/lesbian)
were frequently chosen by participants and/or showed unique
patterns of attraction and partners, distinct from their adjacent
identities (heterosexual and bisexual, and bisexual and gay/
lesbian, respectively). Those who reported an exclusive label
(heterosexual, gay/lesbian) were not necessarily exclusive in
other components; a significant minority of heterosexuals and
the majority of gays/lesbians reported some attraction and/or
partners toward their nonpreferred sex.The five identity groups
differed in attraction and partners in a manner consistent with a
continuous, rather than a categorical, distribution of sexual orientation. Findings also supported a sexual orientation continuum as consisting of two, rather than one, distinct dimensions (same and other-sex sexuality). Having more same-sex sexuality did not necessarily imply having less other-sex sexuality, and vice versa. More men than women were at the exclusive ends of the continuum; however, men were not bimodally distributed in that a significant minority reported nonexclusivity in their sexuality.
school seniors (48% female; 89% White) from a single school district in a rural upstate New York community. Based on a group-norms perspective, we expected higher well-being in adolescents whose sexual behaviors followed group-normative patterns. As expected, sexually experienced and on-time (at age 16) students reported higher well-being than sexually inexperienced or late-onset (17 or older) students. Contrary to expectations, a high number of sex partners and an early sexual onset (15 or younger) were not related to lower well-being. Early-onset girls reported
higher levels of well-being than normative-onset peers. Findings are discussed in relationship to theoretical perspectives and past empirical findings of teenage sexuality as a developmental asset versus risk.