Study shows college men say, ‘I love you’ first, have ulterior motives

(Dec. 22, 2002)   —   Study shows college men say, ‘I love you’ first, have ulterior motives

What’s love got to do with it? Not much, according to a study conducted by a student and a sociology professor at East Carolina University and a colleague from Indiana University Northwest.

The study, published in the December 2002 edition of the College Student Journal, assessed gender differences in saying “I love you,” among college students. Results show that males were significantly more likely than females to report saying “I love you” sooner in the relationship and to have a sexual agenda in doing so.

The study was done by sociology student Angel Brantley and sociology Professor David Knox from East Carolina University and sociology Professor Marty E. Zusman of Indiana University Northwest.

“The findings of this study have several implications for university students, faculty, and counselors,” wrote the authors. “Female students now have empirical verification that hearing ‘I love you’ may mean little more than ‘I am saying this just so I hope you will have sex with me.'”

The College Student Journal, based in Mobile, Ala., publishes findings on college student values and attitudes. It can be accessed on the web at: http://journals825.home.mindspring.com/csj.html

The study is available from the ECU News Bureau upon request.

Brantley can be contacted at 252-413-0744.

Knox can be reached at 252-328-4896.