Studies: Sex Is Becoming Less Frequent Worldwide Amid Stress and Digital Technology
According to "Psychologies", citing surveys and studies, couples and young adults are having sex less often, driven by stress, fatigue and digital interaction. Experts expect artificial intelligence and remote-intimacy devices to reinforce the trend.
Sexual behaviour is changing around the world, and people are having less sex, according to the psychology magazine "Psychologies". Survey and research data suggest couples and young adults are less often intimate, even as interest grows in emotional safety, open dialogue and mental health care.
What the surveys show
A physical intimacy survey by the portal "Marriage" found that 30% of couples had had no sex at all in the past month. At the same time, 73% of respondents said they would like to have sex more often. They named lack of time, chronic stress and emotional distance as the main obstacles.
A pronounced "sex recession" is observed among Generation Z. A study by the Kinsey Institute found that 25% of people aged 18 to 29 meet their intimacy needs online, through messaging apps, social media, pornography and artificial intelligence. Another 28% said smart devices reduce their motivation to communicate in real life.
Most respondents describe their libido as consistently high or moderate. Less frequent sex is attributed to external factors: fear of rejection (60%), financial difficulties (43%), fatigue with dating apps and changing social norms. Sociologists also explain the recession by chronic stress and anxiety. The share of people who believe sex should happen every day has fallen to 9%.
Artificial intelligence and technology
The publication forecasts that in 2027 artificial intelligence will become, for many, a version of an adult "transitional object". The term was introduced in 1951 by British paediatrician and psychoanalyst Donald Winnicott to describe an item, such as a favourite blanket or toy, that a child uses for emotional comfort. Because neural networks tend to affirm a user's statements and emotions, people will increasingly turn to them for surrogate intimacy.
Large language models and chatbots are already used to explore fantasies, practise communication skills and generate erotic content. The sex device industry is also developing rapidly. Further growth is expected for "teledildonics", technology that transmits touch and vibration sensations between partners over the internet, with devices connected through a smartphone app.
