GENDER DIFFERENCES IN HOOK-UP BUSINESSES AMONG UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS IN NIGERIA TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS: EVIDENCE FROM FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OYE-EKITI, EKITI STATE

Abstract

The increasing prevalence of hookup businesses among undergraduate students has become a major social and psychological concern due to its effects on students’ emotional well-being, academic performance, and social behaviour. This study investigated the causes, psychological effects, social effects, and gender differences in hookup businesses among undergraduate students. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design. The population for the study included undergraduate students in selected tertiary institutions, while a sample of 200 respondents was selected using multistage and simple random sampling techniques. The instrument for data collection was a structured questionnaire titled “Hookup Business and Undergraduate Students Questionnaire (HBUSQ).” The instrument had a reliability index of 0.81 using Cronbach’s Alpha reliability method. Data collected were analysed using frequency counts, percentages, mean scores, standard deviation, and t-test statistics at 0.05 level of significance. The results showed that undergraduate students demonstrated a high level of involvement in hookup businesses due to financial hardship, peer influence, social media exposure, and desire for luxury lifestyles. The findings further revealed that hookup businesses had negative psychological effects such as anxiety, depression, loneliness, and emotional stress, while social effects included risky sexual behaviour, social stigma, poor academic performance, and weakened moral values. The study also established significant gender differences in the causes and effects of hookup businesses among students. It was concluded that hookup businesses constitute a serious social and psychological challenge among undergraduates. Among other things, the study recommended increased counselling services, awareness programmes, parental support, and student empowerment initiatives within tertiary institutions.