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Survey: Americans Less Likely to Marry, Partner Up
February 28, 2022
Recent survey results highlight a consistent trend regarding adult relationships: Americans are less likely to marry and are having fewer intimate encounters than in previous years or decades. Although the social distancing years of the pandemic seem like an obvious explanation for this trend, it doesn’t tell the whole story. In fact, these statistics have been moving in this direction since 2016.
So what makes Americans less likely to marry and engage in intimacy? There are several possible reasons, from females becoming more financially independent to young adults getting a later start at “adult things,” dependence on digital media and lack of work-life balance.
Survey: American Less Likely to Marry, Have Sex, Partner Up
A 2021 General Social Survey conducted at the University of California, Berkeley indicates that 26 percent of Americans ages 18 and over did not have sex once over the last 12 months. This trend has proven to be part of a long-term trend and is not simply reflective of the pandemic and social distancing.
The last two times the same survey was conducted, in 2016 and 2018, 23 percent of adult participants reported not having sex in the past year.
Last year’s survey also found that over 50 percent of American adults reported having sex once a month or less. Among married couples under 60 years old, 26 percent had sex once a month or less.
These recent trends differ than results from the 1980s and early ’90s, when 12 percent of adults reported having sex once a month or less.
In addition, a 2021 report published by Pew Research Center found that 71 percent of couples in 1990 were married and living together, compared to 53 percent in 2021. And more couples (9 percent today vs. 4 percent in 1990) are choosing to live together without tying the knot.
Lastly, in recent years, 25 percent of adults have reported not having a steady partner.
Why and What It Means?
Changing trends regarding marriage and sex are impacting younger adults more than older adults. While the statistics are steady for those over 55 years old, adults ages 25–54 are less likely to get married and are having less sex than those in previous years or decades.
Surveys on recent marriage rates suggest that couples are less likely to get married if there’s no financial benefit or the marriage isn’t financially feasible. Other major factors playing a role in the decline of marriages in recent years may be the increase in female education and participation in the labor force leading to more economic independence among women.
Married or not, why are young adults having less sex than in previous decades? There are plenty of theories circulating about the causes of this trend, but some possible reasons for the reduced sex rate reported by both male and female adults may include:
- increased use of smartphones
- increased use digital media and entertainment
- feelings of burnout, being overworked
- increased stress and anxiety
- lack of sleep
- reduced libido
The warnings about burnout, poor lifestyle choices, and excessive smartphone or technology use have been plentiful, but adults are still dealing with issues related to these impactful actions. Perhaps these recent trends regarding relationships among young and middle-aged adults should be yet another wakeup call that adults need to strive for a better, more sustainable work-life balance, spend time unplugging and fostering real-life, in person relationships, and prioritize their overall wellness.
Benefits of a Monogamous Relationship
There are several benefits of marriage or being in a healthy monogamous relationship, whether you are living together or separately. Committing to a person as a life partner is beneficial because it:
- Reduces risk of heart disease. Research suggests that people married or in relationships are at a lower risk of cardiovascular disease than their single counterparts.
- Fights stress. Being in a monogamous relationship has been shown to reduce cortisol levels and can help adults deal with life stressors.
- Increases longevity. There’s plenty of research showing that having a healthy relationship increases longevity by fighting loneliness, providing an emotional connection and boosting overall health.
Conclusion
- Recent survey results show that adults ages 18 and older are having less sex, and Americans are less likely to marry than in previous years or decades.
- These findings aren’t new but part of a trend that’s been occurring for the last decade.
- What’s causing the decline in intimacy and marriage? Research suggests that there are several reasons, including greater financial independence among women and changing social trends among young adults.
