Delayed maturity, increased use of the internet and digital media have caused sexual activity in the U.S. to take a back seat for many single and married youth and adults.
This phenomenon is not exactly due to COVID-19, as according to researchers at San Diego State University, the decline in sex lives in young American men aged 18-24 was most marked between 2000 and 2018.
According to the study published in JAMA, men who were unemployed, had a part-time job, or had lower incomes were more likely to be sexually inactive.
Among the findings, they highlighted that the percentage of sexually inactive men aged 18 to 24 increased from 18.9 percent between 2000 and 2002 to 30.9 percent between 2016 and 2018, which accounts for the advance of the phenomenon that could, they said, have implications for public health.
The study, which included surveys of more than 4,000 men and 5,000 women, revealed that women aged 25-34 also had less sex.
The drop in their number was largely because they were focused on their studies.
Psychologists pointed out that the reasons for the drop in the frequency of sexual intercourse are complicated.
"First, adolescents and young adults are taking longer to reach maturity. This includes postponing not only sexual activity, but also other actions related to mating and reproduction, such as dating, living with a partner, pregnancy and childbirth," explained Jean M. Twenge, author of the report and professor of psychology at San Diego State University.
Such reproductive tendencies are "part of a broader cultural trend toward delayed development," the expert stressed. "It is more difficult to go out and engage in sexual activities when you are not financially independent of your parents."
The study's conclusions state that the "slow-moving" trend does not explain why sexual activity also declined among older and married adults, suggesting that "the growth of the Internet and digital media" may be affecting sex lives.
"Simply put, there are now many more choices to be made in the late afternoon than ever before and fewer opportunities to initiate sexual activity when both parties are engrossed in social media, electronic games or marathon series," Twenge added.
Although social networking and Internet sites should, in theory, make it easier for Americans to find sexual partners, the use of mobile technology could interfere with the satisfaction gained from personal interaction, the report's authors noted.
Sexual health and satisfaction are key components of health and well-being. Sexual intercourse can positively influence life-related satisfaction and happiness; in addition, sexual activity can reduce heart rate and blood pressure, while reducing stress by promoting the release of oxytocin.
Conversely, lower sexual activity has been associated with higher mortality and poorer health.
Added to this is the fact that we are in the midst of a COVID-19 pandemic, where more and more positive cases are being registered, due to the Omicron variant, so there are still protective measures such as social distancing.
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