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How often do different generations actually have sex? Researchers at the Kinsey Institute at Indiana University analyzed data from 3,310 people ages 18 to 75 who signed up for a popular dating app.
The study, led by Dr. Justin Lehmiller, sheds light on the sexual lives of thousands of people worldwide.
What Did the Researchers Discover?
The results found that Generation Z has sex less often, has fewer partners, and has fewer relationships than previous generations.
Respondents from the youngest generation reported having sex an average of three times a month, according to the Daily Mail.
Millennials and Generation X reported slightly higher numbers, with participants from both age groups having sex about five times a month.
Meanwhile, baby boomers, like the youngest adults, also reported physical intimacy about three times a month.
“Generation Z and baby boomers show nearly identical frequencies of sexual encounters, meaning the youngest and oldest individuals have the least sexual activity,” the team said.
Nearly half of Generation Z reported being single, compared with about one-fifth of millennials, Gen Xers, and baby boomers, the researchers added.
On the Tendency to Experiment
Although Generation Z reported the lowest sexual frequency, their experiences were marked by the greatest variety and willingness to experiment.
Fifty-five percent of Gen Z said they discovered something new about sex after they started using a dating app. That figure was 49 percent for millennials (Generation Y), 39 percent for Generation X, and 33 percent for baby boomers.
The researchers offer two explanations.
First, older adults have had more time to figure out what they enjoy sexually, so fewer aspects of intimacy remain unexplored for them.
Second, today’s young people appear more interested in experimentation and more open to exploring kinks.
The researchers hope the survey will help illuminate changes in sex, gender, sexuality, and relationships.
They pointed out that, although open conversations about sex were once taboo, sexual practices have long existed on a continuum.
That continuum will continue to evolve as Generation Z and future generations pursue sexual self-discovery, the team said.
The team says the sooner people accept sexuality as a normal part of life, the better prepared they’ll be to seek pleasure and happiness.
