Americans are increasingly becoming a sexless people, with more than ever now saying that they had no sexual experiences—at least none involving other people—in 2018 than in any previous year on record, according to data taken from the General Social Survey, and reported on Friday by the Washington Post.
The data shows that nearly one in every four Americans, 23 percent, reported going completely without sex last year, and while that percentage sets an all-time record—or at least since 1989, when data was first compiled—the numbers are not completely surprising. For the past decade, reported rates of American sexlessness have been climbing at a steady rate.
But the trend appears to be driven by one group in particular, according to GSS data. Young people, and specifically young men between the ages of 18 and 30, have seen their rate of sexlessness jump since 2008.
Men in that age group have nearly tripled their rate of annual celibacy, with only about 10 percent saying that they went without sex in 2008, to 28 percent missing out on sexual relations for all of 2018.
Women in the 18-30 group have also seen sexlessness rates rise, but on the whole report more sexual activity than men, with 18 percent saying they had no sex in 2018 compared to below 10 percent in 2008.
One reason may be that young people are waiting longer in life to find steady romantic—and sexual—partners, according to psychologist Jean Twenge, author of the book, iGen: Why Today’s Super-Connected Kids Are Growing Up Less Rebellious, More Tolerant, Less Happy—and Completely Unprepared for Adulthood
“There are more people in their twenties who don’t have a live-in partner,” she said. “So under those circumstances I think less sex is going to happen.”
Despite the widespread perception that sex disappears after marriage, the study shows that Americans over 30, who are now more likely to be married than their millennial-generation counterparts, are more likely to report sexual activity in the past year than those between 18 and 30, according to the study.
Economic factors may also be playing a role in suppressing sexual activity, Twenge told the Post. Research has shown a “connection between labor force participation and stable relationships,” Twenge said—and with fewer men under 30 entering the labor force, fewer are having sex.
In addition, more young people have continued to live with their parents for longer than in previous generations, with 35 percent of men between 18 and 34 living at home, and 29 percent of women, according to a recent Pew Research survey.
“When you’re living at home it’s probably harder to bring sexual partners into your bedroom,” Twenge observed.
Photo BY mehrdad68 / Wikimedia Commons
