People are having sex less frequently. The drop is clearer in young adults, especially men.
This trend can be partly explained by the dating apps and internet rather than porn access, fear of pregnancy, or morality.
According to a new study by Karolinska Institution published in JAMA Network Open, more than 30 percent of men between 18 and 24 years old had no sexual activity over the last 12 months.
Researchers found out that sexual activity in these men increased from nearly 20 percent up to almost 30 percent from 2000 to 2002 and 2016 to 2018.
The number for women was quite stable, increasing to 19 percent from 15 percent in the same period.
The study also found out that adults are having less sex on a weekly basis.
Part-time employed, unemployed, low-income, and unmarried men tend to have no sex in the past year than employed, high-income, and married men.
Even among those people who have sex, there was a decrease in frequency.
The study included more than 5,200 women and 4,300 men from 2000 to 2018 in the United States.
A similar trend has been shown in Great Britain as well.
Scientists suggest that a possible cause might be the longer progress to adulthood in young adults.
The postponement includes dating, living with your partner, mating, having sex, pregnancy, and having birth. This trend is a part of broader delayed development.
Many researchers believe that porn is not the issue. In fact, pornography platforms even make some people more sexually active.
Instead, the trend can be explained by digital and internet media that might distract people from having real-life relationships.
More time on online platforms would reduce the time on face-to-face interaction. In other words, there are more options to do in the evening for young people now, such as gaming, social media, or movie.
Sexually transmitted diseases and unwanted pregnancies can also be the causes.
The results implicated possible dissatisfaction with sexual activity. In fact, sex can be a source of distress for many people.
A drawback of the study is the unclear definition of sex. Some participants might interpret the term as vaginal intercourse, while others might include both mutual masturbation and oral sex.
This suggests that the declining trend might be attributed to an increase in sexual diversity.
Many researchers agree with this assumption because they think that the study should not omit all forms that people can enjoy as sex.
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