A study released Tuesday in the Archives of Sexual Behavior concluded that American adults have less sexual intercourse than in the 1990s. Based on an extensive research from 1989 to 2014, the report says that the recorded decline in sexual activity, which is seven to nine fewer times, is the lowest by far. The results were all based on surveys handed out to people of different economic standings, educational levels, genders and religious background.
Studying the sex lives of more than 25,000 adults, Americans of today only have sex about 53 times a year, whereas the 90s recorded an average of 60 to 63 times a year. A drop across all groups was recorded, but the data shows married couples have the greatest decline. In comparison to individuals who had never been married, married people only had sex about 55 times a year in 2014. In 1990, married couples did the deed about 73 times a year.
Moving in: not cool?
Meanwhile, the current generation of Americans is apparently not very keen on living with a partner anymore. 66 percent of American adults lived with a significant other in 1986.
In 2014, however, only 59 percent chose to do so. These numbers are indicative of why many adults find themselves not having enough sex since those in stable relationships are inclined to having more sexual intercourse. In the study, the survey has also included the question “About how often did you have sex during the past 12 months?”
Why aren’t Americans having sex?
San Diego State University Psychology Professor Jean Twenge, the research team’s lead author, said the occurrence of depression among American adults could be one concrete reason why fewer people are having sex. Furthermore, social media activities and exhaustion are also contributing factors. The results of the study suggest that people born in the 1990s, of which includes Millenials and iGen, had fewer sexual activity, while those born in the 1930s had sex most often.
“We do know that sexual frequency is linked to marital satisfaction,” Professor Twenge said in a statement. “So overall if you have fewer people having sex you could have people who are less happy and less satisfied with that relationship.”