When it comes to relationships, a common preconception is that Gen Z likes to remain fast and free while boomers and millennials traditionally favour monogamy and stability.
But a newly published report claims the younger generation may be more like their predecessors than initially anticipated. Who would’ve thought?
Feeld, the modern dating app for ‘open-minded individuals’, has worked in conjunction with Dr. Justin Lehmiller of The Kinsey Institute at Indiana University to compile data on generational dating habits.
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The groundbreaking results were published to coincide with World Sexual Health Day on Wednesday (September 4).
Experts working on the report, titled ‘The State of Dating: How Gen Z is Redefining Sexuality and Relationships’, collated data from Gen Z, Millennial, Gen X, and Boomer adults on dating trends and attitudes towards sexuality and relationships.
After analysing the data - gained from Feeld communities and wider research at the Kinsey Institute - the study lead found that younger people have an ‘unexpected affinity for monogamy’.
It’s said 81 percent of participants born between 1997 and 2012 claimed they fantasized about being in a monogamous relationship.
Meanwhile, a whopping 44 percent stated they frequently thought about the notion.
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In older generations, it's thought around 70 percent enjoy one-on-one commitment, with 25 percent considering it regularly.
“It is well documented that Gen Z is having less sex, fewer partners and fewer relationships than generations that came before,” said Dr. Lehmiller.
“At the same time, a current trend is the romanticisation of traditional relationships and roles. There is a certain appeal to ‘how things used to be’ in the sense that they just seemed simpler.”
The study reports that 15 percent of quizzed participants said they prefer non-monogamous relationship styles over traditional types.
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This surprising statistic is only slightly lower than the 16 percent of Millennials, who claim they’re into monogamy and much higher than the 9 percent of Gen Z participants.
The research also claims the younger generations are ‘increasingly open to exploring and redefining their identities over time’, with 59 percent of Gen Z Feeld Members reporting a sexual identity other than heterosexual.
Scientific boffins have also used the study to dive into the world of kink.
According to the broader research, Gen Z is leading the rise in kink and BDSM interests, with 56 percent reporting BDSM fantasies compared to just 12 percent of boomers.
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“It suggests a generation that is simultaneously challenging and embracing tradition,” explained the study lead.
Dr. Lehmiller also claimed the results worked to offer a ‘fascinating glimpse’ into how Gen Z is ‘redefining relationships’.
“Their openness to exploring more fluid ways of being, coupled with an unexpected affinity for monogamy, suggests a generation that is simultaneously challenging and embracing tradition,” he continued.
“What is also striking is how, compared to the national average, the Feeld community seems to be a lot more open to exploring, defining, and redefining who they really are, which helps advance our work on understanding where sexuality and relationships are headed within a broader cultural context.”
You can now access the full report on Feeld.
Topics: Sex and Relationships, Lifestyle
Ella Scott