Despite the fact that nowadays the topic of sex is less restricted than it was 30 years ago, people are not having more of it. Quite the opposite, studies show that young Americans make love less frequently than their parents did. Is the Internet to blame?

Author: Adilia S.

Statistics 1995-2014: Americans are having less sex today than in 20 century

Scientists from the University of San Diego (USA) found out that new generations are less active in the bedroom.

For comparison:

• Married (or living with a long-term partner) Americans in 2000-2004 had sex 16 more sex encounters per year than couples in 2010-2014.
• From 1995 to 1999, couples got between the sheets on 9 occasions more than stable pairs in 2010-2014.

The general trend shows that people do not have sex as often as they used to.

In addition, the researchers discovered another shirt. In the 1990s, married people were engaged in bedroom activities more frequently than those who were single. By the middle of the first decade of 21 century things changed. Today singles have sex more often than married couples.

One of the reasons is that millennials (Gen Y) don’t rush to get married and in general prefer living by themselves to cohabiting with a partner. People born at the end of 20th century have a lower rate of stable relations, Science Daily reports.

The study

The research is based on data collected during surveys of more than 26,000 Americans since 1989.

Naturally, age also matters. As the years go by, the number of encounters per year goes down. According to statistics, people under the age of 30 make love 80 times per year. This figure goes down to 60 times by the age of 45, and drops to 20 times a year after the age of 65.

Less sex, less happiness

At the same time as the sexual frequency went down, the level of happiness among USA residents dropped as well. Is there a connection?

Scientists thought the current drop in sexual frequency might be associated with an increased workload, but in fact people who work longer hours don’t get passionate less often than the ones who work fewer hours.

Some experts attribute the lack of sexual desire to Internet addictions. Today’s grownups grab their phones the first thing when they wake up before they even say “Hi” to the partner who is next to them in bed. People began to replace the real world with a virtual one. With so many pleasures achievable in just a couple of clicks, why should they bother going somewhere and making efforts to build relationships?

Russian statistics

On the other hand, Internet gave us more opportunities for communication. Just 25 years ago, an average Moscow female had around 4.5 partners before marriage, but today this number jumped to 7.5. Experts say it is due to simplicity of getting in touch with new people online through dating sites and social networks.

Researchers argue it may be due to drop in communication skills, which prevents young Russians from building strong long-term connections. Other scientists call it choosiness. Mature commentators point out to higher levels of egoism and self-centeredness among millennials.

• However, in 2015 younger Russians still indicated in a survey that women should wed by 23 and males by 25. However, the actual age of the first marriage in Russia is higher both for men and women: 27.4 for males and 24.9 for females.
• In any case, young Russians, just like Americans, are not in such a hurry to get married as their grandparents. There were 12.5 marriages per 1000 population in 1960, and only 7.9 in 2015, according to official statistics by GKS.ru.

The age of first marriage in Russia is on the rise. And while the older generation of Russian women still value family as #1 priority in life, the young girls that belong to the last wave of the Generation Z may see their role in life already in a different light.

The scientists all over the world note that the modern youngsters are more interested in the Internet rather than in making love.

Read also:

• Talking to Russian and Ukrainian women about sex
• Sex is good for job satisfaction
• Secrets of female orgasm revealed (by women themselves)
• Why do we need international dating sites?