Sometimes sex is better than exercise
“needed to relieve stresses from school and life. sex was an easy outlet. exercise wasn't doing it.” (female, 20, sophomore)
Sexual behavior varies significantly due to factors such as sexual orientation, age, cultural norms, religious beliefs, personal values, and societal expectations. The internet has drastically altered the landscape of sexual behavior over the last two decades. Moreover, the internet and digital technology have made it possible for people to engage in sexual behaviors like sexting. Growing up with almost unlimited access to sexually explicit material and pornography online certainly influenced Generation Z’s attitude toward sex. Gen Z teens are known to be sexting and sending nudes on apps such as Snapchat® or WhatsApp® at age 13 already. While this can be a normal part of adult relationships, it also carries risks, particularly for teenagers, such as the non-consensual sharing of explicit photos, including revenge porn.
Yet, data indicate that Gen Z is less sexually active than millennials were at the same age. Eighty-three percent of millennial students participating in my surveys reported having engaged in sex already. That proportion is lower for the Gen Z students in my surveys, as less than three-quarters had experience with sexual activity. Eighty percent of Gen Z students who had engaged in sexual activity before were sexually active when they participated in our survey, meaning they had engaged in either oral, vaginal, or anal sex during the past 30 days. Of this group, almost 70% said they had been involved in sexual activity with only one or two partners over the last 12 months. Just one in eight respondents had had sex with five or more partners during that time.
I was also curious how many students had engaged in casual sex or a one-night stand. The data from our students reflect the fact that Gen Z students overall are less sexually active. Whereas 60% of millennial students claimed to have had casual sex or a one-night stand, only 44% of Gen Z respondents stated the same. More male Gen Z students answered ‘yes’ (48%) than female students (43%).
Students who admitted to having had casual sex or a one-night stand were also asked whether any factors, such as alcohol or drug consumption, had influenced their behavior. Only one-third of responding Gen Z students chose ‘yes’. Female Gen Z students were much more likely to select ‘yes’ (35%) than male Gen Zers (25%). Most of these students (83%) mentioned alcohol consumption as the most important factor pushing them toward a different and, in some respect, riskier sexual behavior. The number of Gen Zers mentioning the effects of drug use was twice as high as for millennials (10% versus 5%), and almost 5% mentioned their mental health, for example, depression, sadness, and loneliness, as an essential factor. Other students mentioned being impacted by beer goggles.
Sexual behavior varies significantly due to factors such as sexual orientation, age, cultural norms, religious beliefs, personal values, and societal expectations. The internet has drastically altered the landscape of sexual behavior over the last two decades. Moreover, the internet and digital technology have made it possible for people to engage in sexual behaviors like sexting. Growing up with almost unlimited access to sexually explicit material and pornography online certainly influenced Generation Z’s attitude toward sex. Gen Z teens are known to be sexting and sending nudes on apps such as Snapchat® or WhatsApp® at age 13 already. While this can be a normal part of adult relationships, it also carries risks, particularly for teenagers, such as the non-consensual sharing of explicit photos, including revenge porn.
Yet, data indicate that Gen Z is less sexually active than millennials were at the same age. Eighty-three percent of millennial students participating in my surveys reported having engaged in sex already. That proportion is lower for the Gen Z students in my surveys, as less than three-quarters had experience with sexual activity. Eighty percent of Gen Z students who had engaged in sexual activity before were sexually active when they participated in our survey, meaning they had engaged in either oral, vaginal, or anal sex during the past 30 days. Of this group, almost 70% said they had been involved in sexual activity with only one or two partners over the last 12 months. Just one in eight respondents had had sex with five or more partners during that time.
I was also curious how many students had engaged in casual sex or a one-night stand. The data from our students reflect the fact that Gen Z students overall are less sexually active. Whereas 60% of millennial students claimed to have had casual sex or a one-night stand, only 44% of Gen Z respondents stated the same. More male Gen Z students answered ‘yes’ (48%) than female students (43%).
Students who admitted to having had casual sex or a one-night stand were also asked whether any factors, such as alcohol or drug consumption, had influenced their behavior. Only one-third of responding Gen Z students chose ‘yes’. Female Gen Z students were much more likely to select ‘yes’ (35%) than male Gen Zers (25%). Most of these students (83%) mentioned alcohol consumption as the most important factor pushing them toward a different and, in some respect, riskier sexual behavior. The number of Gen Zers mentioning the effects of drug use was twice as high as for millennials (10% versus 5%), and almost 5% mentioned their mental health, for example, depression, sadness, and loneliness, as an essential factor. Other students mentioned being impacted by beer goggles.
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“i've had a one night stand after a night out at the bar. alcohol enhances the drive.” (female, 20, junior)
“Drank and hooked up.” (male, 18, freshman) “i was drunk and a friend from highschool stopped by and one thing led to another. fully consensual.” (female, 20, sophomore) “Being under the influence just influenced my behavior differently which I ended up sleeping with someone I soberly would never.” (female, 20, senior) “we drank wine.” (male, 20, junior) |
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“I felt more confident.” (female, 19, freshman)
“We were both tipsy and I slept over and he walked me back to my place in the morning.” (female, 18, freshman)
“I feel like it’s well known alcohol puts you in the mood.” (female, 18, freshman)
“I was drunk and alcohol makes me a lot more free spirited.” (female, 18, freshman)
“when you’re drinking you are more open to making decisions and not thinking them though. When you see a cute guys things can get pretty escalated quickly.” (female, 19, sophomore)
While most of the comments Gen Z students submitted made light of the situation, a surprising number of submissions expressed regret or illustrated the dangers of losing control over the situation under the influence of alcohol or drugs. These narratives came from women only, which is an unfortunate reflection of the differences between sexes when it comes to sexual coercion, harassment, and assault we continue to see.
“Alcohol consumption. Became very sick and hungover next day.” (female, 18, freshman)
“I went home for break and slept with my best friend. It was terrible and we were drunk. I haven't talked to him since.” (female, 18, freshman)
“alcohol/drug consumption. was not able to think thoroughly and ended up making poor choices.” (female, 19, sophomore)
“I was rooffied.” (female, 18, freshman)
“boy drank, was forced to sleep in a room with him by other friends.” (female, 19, freshman)
“I was very drunk and couldn’t make decisions so they were made for me.” (female, 18, freshman)
“Unfortunately I have been manipulated into quite a few one night stands with the promises of having an actual relationship at the end. I also have attachment issues and have been known to impulsively use sex as a method of keeping someone interested or "around". I have also been sexually assaulted while under the influence of alcohol.” (female, 20, junior)
However, some students were motivated to have casual sex by reasons other than being intoxicated.
“One of my classmates in high school asked if I wanted to drink with a bottle he got from a relative. I said, “Sure.” Out of sexual curiosity and being tipsy and recently getting out of a long-term relationship, I figured I should “sexually liberate” myself and rebound with him. He wasn't intending to have sex, but I was in an extremely feminist phase of my life and thought it would be fulfilling to have casual sex.” (female, 19, freshman)
“Me and my friend did oral, but it was hard for me to do it because I wasn't over my boyfriend. So we started drinking to get less nervous. I wouldn't say it influenced me. I TRIED to make it influence me, but I ended up cutting the oral short because I just wasn't feeling it.” (female, 19, sophomore)
“I got drunk and slept with a older kid from high school. I did this because me and my ex boyfriend had broken up and I was emotionally and physical ready to sleep with someone else (it took me 6 mounths). I don't regret it because sleeping with him aloud me to get over my first love. it was a fun summer fling before he left for college.” (female, 19, sophomore)
“We were both tipsy and I slept over and he walked me back to my place in the morning.” (female, 18, freshman)
“I feel like it’s well known alcohol puts you in the mood.” (female, 18, freshman)
“I was drunk and alcohol makes me a lot more free spirited.” (female, 18, freshman)
“when you’re drinking you are more open to making decisions and not thinking them though. When you see a cute guys things can get pretty escalated quickly.” (female, 19, sophomore)
While most of the comments Gen Z students submitted made light of the situation, a surprising number of submissions expressed regret or illustrated the dangers of losing control over the situation under the influence of alcohol or drugs. These narratives came from women only, which is an unfortunate reflection of the differences between sexes when it comes to sexual coercion, harassment, and assault we continue to see.
“Alcohol consumption. Became very sick and hungover next day.” (female, 18, freshman)
“I went home for break and slept with my best friend. It was terrible and we were drunk. I haven't talked to him since.” (female, 18, freshman)
“alcohol/drug consumption. was not able to think thoroughly and ended up making poor choices.” (female, 19, sophomore)
“I was rooffied.” (female, 18, freshman)
“boy drank, was forced to sleep in a room with him by other friends.” (female, 19, freshman)
“I was very drunk and couldn’t make decisions so they were made for me.” (female, 18, freshman)
“Unfortunately I have been manipulated into quite a few one night stands with the promises of having an actual relationship at the end. I also have attachment issues and have been known to impulsively use sex as a method of keeping someone interested or "around". I have also been sexually assaulted while under the influence of alcohol.” (female, 20, junior)
However, some students were motivated to have casual sex by reasons other than being intoxicated.
“One of my classmates in high school asked if I wanted to drink with a bottle he got from a relative. I said, “Sure.” Out of sexual curiosity and being tipsy and recently getting out of a long-term relationship, I figured I should “sexually liberate” myself and rebound with him. He wasn't intending to have sex, but I was in an extremely feminist phase of my life and thought it would be fulfilling to have casual sex.” (female, 19, freshman)
“Me and my friend did oral, but it was hard for me to do it because I wasn't over my boyfriend. So we started drinking to get less nervous. I wouldn't say it influenced me. I TRIED to make it influence me, but I ended up cutting the oral short because I just wasn't feeling it.” (female, 19, sophomore)
“I got drunk and slept with a older kid from high school. I did this because me and my ex boyfriend had broken up and I was emotionally and physical ready to sleep with someone else (it took me 6 mounths). I don't regret it because sleeping with him aloud me to get over my first love. it was a fun summer fling before he left for college.” (female, 19, sophomore)
