Undergraduate students sugar dating in the US demonstrate greater financial need and a history of several adverse childhood experiences.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate prevalence of sugar dating among undergraduate students and assess the demographics and motivations of sugar babies.

PARTICIPANTS

This study included 1582 undergraduate students 18 years or older in an urban, private university in the U.S. (82 sugar participants and 1500 controls).

METHODS

From October 2019 to May 2020, a cross-sectional, online survey asked participants about sugar dating experiences, substance use history, and childhood traumas.

RESULTS

Prevalence of sugar dating was 5.2%. Sugar babies were 2 to 5 times more likely to have experienced childhood trauma defined by the 10 item ACE questionnaire. Sugar babies were more likely to have financial support (loans, scholarships, Federal Pell grants, work-study), use illegal drugs, and have greater daily alcohol consumption.

CONCLUSIONS

Many sugar babies have experienced vulnerabilities (financial need, childhood traumas) that could heighten their risk of exploitation by sugar sponsors. Future studies should explore the dynamics of sugar relationships among undergraduate students and the risks accompanying these relationships.