Last year, there was some media attention given to research conducted at UCLA and the University of Chicago that suggested Gen Zers (18-30 year olds) were not having as much sex as other age groups.
You might be wondering just how accurate studies like this can be. After all, no one know for sure when any one person is having sex at any given time, right? This research was based upon questions asked of a large sample size of individuals aged 18-30, but the results are qualitative. No one is studying subjects in a lab nor following them around with 24-hour surveillance. However, the responses researchers received did point to some possible causes.
- COVID. Lockdowns, social distancing, fear of illness, etc. literally kept us physically apart from one another.
- SOCIAL MEDIA and ONLINE DATING APPS. Expectations, round-the-clock analysis about those expectations, too much focus on appearance and superficial features, and the getting-to-know-someone-before-you-KNOW-them piece which removes the opportunity for deeper conversation and potential for connection.
- YOUNG ADULTS LIVING AT HOME LONGER. Due to financial and housing constraints, many people are choosing to live with their parents or other family members, which may not be exactly conducive to privacy or setting the mood.
- CAREERS. Individuals with uteruses might delay having children because they are able to consider egg freezing. This way, they can focus on establishing themselves professionally before settling down with kids.
No one is debating these factors above. But is all of it really leading to a lower incidence of people having sex?
I did a little research myself recently at a small gathering of young adults, aged 20-30. Trust me – it wasn’t scientific in the least. And it wasn’t something I can generalize. But most of them told me that they didn’t agree with what the university studies suggested. They did mention trust issues associated with dating, as many of them had been ghosted, etc. Not only did this make the whole dating experience less fun, but they also felt like they were meeting fewer people in person and relying too heavily on the dating apps.
There’s also this article published in the Los Angeles Times, A “failure to launch”: Why young people are having less sex, which mentions the “no rush for sex” trend that has been building over the past decade.
If you’re having less sex than you or your partner would like, there may be any number of reasons for this: physical, psychological or a combination of both. If it’s low libido, sexual pain, or a hormone imbalance which can occur at multiple points throughout your life, contact us. We’re here to help you in any way we can.
The idea of younger generations having less sex and intimate relationships certainly is an interesting trend to explore and could start to challenge some of the social norms of the past. Will it bare out or will the winds shift? Stay tuned!
