Gen Z, Millennial couples are having less sex — here’s how to give your boom-boom a boost
Like skinny jeans and the “thumbs up” emoji — sex is so going out of style.
Thankfully, the concept of bumping and grinding during a good old-fashion roll in the hay hasn’t officially received the hellacious “cheugy” epithet from snarky zillennials.
However, recent research has found that folks between the ages of 19 to 34 just aren’t getting busy as often as the freaks of yesteryear.
In fact, December 2023 statistics on the sex frequencies of Gen Zers and millennials via Women’s Health Interactive revealed that approximately 31% of Gen Z guys and 14% of millennial men reported no sexual activity in the past year.
The findings, too, noted that the ladies lacked in bedsheet shenanigans as well, seeing 19% of Gen Z gals and about 13% of millennial women admitting to going complete sexless in the 12 months before the annual calendar change.
The poll results bolstered a recent biannual report commissioned by The University of Chicago, which discovered a steady decline in the number of young adults who claimed to have sex at least once a month in 1994 (290 respondents), 2006 (265 respondents) and 2022 (181 respondents).
And a staggering 47.5% of the not-so hotsy-totsy Gen Zs reported a disdain for seeing actors do the deed in streamers, shows and movies, per an October 2023 probe from the University of California.
The dwindling interest in two-person pushups notwithstanding, sexperts say young lovers who’d like to ramp up their risqué rendezvous should prioritize the quality of sex rather than becoming alarmed by a low quantity.
“Quality sex feels like being present in your own body and what you’re experiencing, connecting with another person or yourself, and being in the moment instead of thinking about your to-do list—it’s really a wholeness of the moment that should be the goal,” Kate Levine, a licensed therapist, told GQ.
“The depth, connection or meaning we put into it is more important than just [doing it] all the time,” she added.
And there are a ton of reasons why twenty- and thirty-somethings just aren’t engaging in hanky-panky as much as their parents and grandparents did back in the day.
Owing to inflation and the high cost of living, a number of Gen Zs have been forced to move in with mom and dad, rendering them “home blocked” from slapping skins with a partner as often as they’d like.
Some youngish peeps have become so inundated with toxic messaging about sex on social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram that they’ve lost the ability to revel in its pleasures. And a faction of would-be freaky folks are simply to busy, juggling kids and careers, to schedule in some NSFW time with their significant other.
But Lindsey Schaffer, a licensed mental health, couples, relationship and sex therapist, says every sexy second counts — even if there’s no penetration or orgasms.
“People think that if you’re not having this lengthy, amazing sex every time that they don’t have a good sex life, but that expectation can really hurt you,” the pro explained to the men’s mag.
POST WANTED SHOPPING
I got my vibrator at Babeland for 66% off in time for Valentine’s Day
Best sex toy stores of 2024: The top 24 brands to shop online
“It’s really important to manage expectations and know that it’s not going to be amazing every time — sometimes it’s good for one or both of you, sometimes it sucks for one or both of you,” she continued. “But that doesn’t mean you’re not having enough sex or that the quality of your sex isn’t good.”
And NYC-based sex therapist Nikita Fernandes agreed.
“We need to move beyond the idea that sex is penetration and expand our understanding of what it means to be sexual with a partner,” she said, suggesting sweethearts expand their “sexual menus” to more outré fun.
“For some people, sex is using a vibrator and watching your partner masturbate and finishing together; for others, it’s talking about your fantasies — it can be whatever we want it to be.”
Fernandes added that doing the little things for your darling can have a big impact on your sex lives.
“A huge reason why people don’t have much sex is because physical touch is only happening within the context of sex,” she said. “Some people want to be touched platonically by their partner and not feel like it’s going to lead into sex.”
“Increasing that platonic intimacy is really crucial in having better quality — and quantity — sex.”
