In early 2016, sales in Japan of adult nappies exceeded that of baby pampers for the first time, indicating Japanese people are not having enough sex. A recent study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the US found that American millennials too are having less sex.

The study by the National Center for Health Statistics, based on data from the 2011-2014 National Survey of Family Growth, found that there was a significant decline in the rate of teens aged 15 to 19 who had experienced sexual intercourse. Among females, 44 percent and among males, 47 percent had experienced sex, down by 14 percent for females and 22 percent for males over the past 25 years.

Before, younger teen males were likely to have experienced sexual intercourse compared to females, but among older teens, the percentage is the same for males and females. The findings reverse previous trends when the teen years were used by the youth to experiment, experience and learn about sex.

Among the reasons behind the lesser interest of millennials, or people who became young adults by year 2000, in sex include having to pay large amounts of student debts that require them to work longer hours. Another study by Dr Jean Twenge from San Diego State University explains that because of the financial crash, more members of Generation Y are still living with their parents.

Soaring rents caused them not to leave home at 18. But living with the family makes it difficult for adult children with limited finances to have sex at the family residence. Even those who have moved out but share an apartment are also challenged to have sex in their situation.

Twenge explains, “Having flatmates can make this difficult too – you’re afraid they will hear your activities, and they might not appreciate having someone else in their space. It’s also more difficult because fewer young men have jobs, and most young women want to date someone who is employed,” quotes Sunshinecoastdaily.

Also raised as a possible explanation is digital technology which made online porn easily available but makes it more difficult for young males to have sex with a real woman. The Telegraph columnist Rebecca Reid notes that the ease in accessing sex toys and adult entertainment material are factors too. She continues, “If you’re feeling sexually frustrated you’ve got a much better outlet to address the issue yourself, rather than going out and looking for sex.”

VIDEO: Why Millennials have Less Sex than their Parents

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