Sexual inactivity increased among young American men between 2000 and 2018, according to researchers at San Diego State University who studied survey data from American adults. The delay in adulthood and the growth of the Internet and digital media could be the reason.
Psychologists analyzed data on sexual frequency and the number of sexual partners, examining the answers provided by more than 4,000 men and 5,000 women for each question.
Men who were unemployed, had part-time jobs or lower incomes were more likely to be sexually inactive, psychologists noted, noting that the percentage of men aged 18 to 24 who were sexually inactive increased from 18, 9% between 2000 and 2002 to 30.9% between 2016 and 2018.
Women aged 25 to 34 also had less sex, according to researchers in a survey published Friday in the medical journal JAMA, noting that students were the most likely to be affected.
The reasons for this slowdown are complex, according to the researchers.
"First, adolescents and young adults take longer to reach adulthood. This includes postponing not only sexual activity, but also other activities related to mating and reproduction, including dating, living with a partner, pregnancy and birth, "said Jean M Twenge, author of the report and professor of psychology at San Diego State University, said in a statement.
These reproductive trends "are part of a larger cultural trend toward developmental delay," said Twenge, and did not occur in isolation.
"It is more difficult to date and engage in sexual activity without being economically independent from one's parents," wrote Twenge.
However, the researchers also quickly pointed out that the tendency to "grow slowly" did not explain why sexual activity had decreased in older and married adults, noting that "the growth of the Internet and digital media" could affect sex life.
"Simply put, there are now far more choices of things to do in the late evening than there once were and fewer opportunities to start sexual activity if both partners are absorbed by social media. , electronic games or the frenzy, "added Twenge.
While social media and websites should theoretically make it easier for Americans to find sexual partners, the use of mobile technology could interfere with the satisfaction that comes from in-person interaction, the report's authors said.
It's not just young people in the United States who have had less sex. British couples are having less sex than they have in the past two decades, although the number of people wanting more is increasing, according to a 2019 study from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine in the United Kingdom.
A number of health benefits have been linked to regular sex, including reduced stress, improved heart health and better sleep.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, however, it may be more difficult than usual for couples to act on their impulses, with orders to stay at home and other social distancing measures still in place in couples. many countries around the world.
