However, in a study called "The age of adolescence", professor Susan Sawyer hypothesized that adolescence now starts at the age of 10, and lasts all the way up to 24.

More and more young people are getting into video games these days.

I myself have been gaming since a young age, and some of my happiest childhood memories involve me glued to the screen with a controller in hand, leaping over turtles as Mario or exploring strange dungeons in Zelda. But, like anything, too much at the expense of one's health is a bad thing, and now new data from a major scientific study seems to suggest that video games might be to blame for young men having less sex.

According to the latest statistics from the University of Chicago's biennial General Social Survey (GSS) reveal that young men are spending more time streaming stuff, playing on games consoles, and on social media.

The report found that 23 per cent of adults said they had not had sex in the past year or longer, with most of these being men in their twenties. Not only that, but the number of men who had been celibate for more than a year has doubled over the last decade, and the number of men under the age of 30 who have never had sex has rocketed from eight per cent in 2008 to 27 per cent in 2018.

Speaking to The Washington Post, San Diego State University psychology professor Jean Twenge commented on the findings, explaining that while video games and other forms of entertainment are partially to blame, the fact that less people are getting married young, and entering committed and long-term relationships, is also a significant factor.

She also believes that, since more and more millennials are living with parents, it's become harder and harder for them to have sexual encounters. Twenge stated:

"There are more people in their twenties who don't have a live-in partner. So under those circumstances, I think less sex is going to happen ... When you're living at home it's probably harder to bring sexual partners into your bedroom."

However, she did admit that the attraction of new tech, and all the entertainment it provides, seems to be steering men away from sex and towards screens. Twenge stated:

"[There are] more things to do at 10 o'clock at night than there were 20 years ago ... streaming video, social media, console games, and everything else." 

René Bautista, a senior research scientist in the Statistics and Methodology department at NORC and co-director of the GSS, has added that the study examines many aspects of modern life, and that video games were just one of many factors researchers examined. "Other special topics addressed in the 2018 data include mental health stigma, the quality of working life, attitudes regarding abortions, self-assessments of physical and psychological health, and the role of the natural environment in people's lives," she said.

Gen Z are bucking the sexual trends of the generations before them - and there's certain things that Millennials are known for that the simply won't do.

Sexual trends are known to change over the years, with new fads coming and going depending on what's 'in' at the time.

While sexual freedom has only increased over the decades, it appears that Gen Z are the first generation to push back on certain elements of it, compared to their predecessors.

While many Millennials are familiar with the so-called "walk of shame" the morning after a hookup with a sexy stranger, Gen Z are apparently not indulging in casual sex or one night stands.

Sex is a personal thing. Credit: eclipse_images / Getty Images

According to a new report into "sex trends" by adult toy retailer Lovehoney, young people are more interested in meaningful encounters than one night stands.

Elisabeth Neumann, sexologist and head researcher at global sex toy retailer, revealed to news.com.au that the seismic shift in hook-up culture does not mean Gen Z are more "prudish", but that they are reacting to a changing dating climate.

It's no surprise that dating has changed significantly with the rise of dating apps (and the associated fatigue of dry conversations with strangers) as well as the cost of living crisis, and the decline in nightlife following the pandemic.

Neumann explained: "With more than a quarter of late-night venues closed since 2020, we’re seeing a real shift in how young people approach alcohol and night-life."

For Millennials and above, going out drinking and catching eyes with a stranger across the bar was a rite of passage, but the new research shows that only half of 18 to 24 year-olds have had a drunken sexual encounter, compared to nearly 70 per cent of 25-to-34-year-olds and almost three-quarters of 35-to-44-year-olds.

The report notes that "without the inhibition-lowering effects of alcohol or specific spaces where hooking up is socially sanctioned, it’s no wonder that one-night stands are in decline."

Gen Z are less likely to indulge in one night stands. Credit: Flashpop / Getty Images

The ongoing cost of living crisis also means many younger people are living at home with their parents for longer, which doesn't make bringing a stranger back particularly easy - so it's no wonder that 77% of those surveyed say they'd never bring a one-night-stand home.

Neumann added: "This generation has been brought up in a society that treats sexuality in a completely different way to their parents.

"Gen Z aren’t rejecting intimacy, they’re being more intentional about it, attaching more meaning to sex and seeking connection on their own terms."

This also means that Gen Z is having far less sex overall than the generations that came before them (no pun intended).

The survey reports that participants aged 46-61 are having sex on average 62 times a year, which is almost twice as often as those surveyed from Gen Z, who reported having sex just 36 times a year.

Gen Z and Millennials are both feeling "burnout" with the slog of meeting people on apps with 78% reporting "severe swipe burnout and scepticism".

Neumann warns: "Digital intimacy, from sexting to dating apps, can replace real-world experiences of touch and connection, which can leave us more disconnected."

When it comes to how Gen Z are actually meeting potential partners with all the odds stacked against them, it turns out that many are returning to the old-fashioned way of meeting people in real life.

Featured image credit: eclipse_images / Getty Images

When you're in your mid-late teens, it is easy to believe that sex is the key to happiness. Due to the raging hormones in your body, you are constantly randy and looking to hump anything that moves. However, as you grow up and begin to slow down, so does your sex drive. Despite this, sex is still a vital cog in a smooth relationship and is vital when it comes to maintaining a balanced, pleasant and happy relationship.

But, while you may think that the happiest couples are those who are getting freaky on the regular, you would be mistaken... kind of. It turns out then when it comes to sex, less is actually more - and we have the science to prove it.

According to a recent survey that was published in the scientific journal Social Psychology and Personality Science, the happiest couples don't get jiggy with it every single day, they actually go at it like a pair of rabbits around once a week. Also, according to the same survey, those who were having sex less than once a week were left less fulfilled.

However, in a separate study conducted by the Kinsey Institute revealed that the average amount of sex that couples have is purely based on age. According to the research, couples between the ages of 18 - 29 have sex 112 times a year, averaging out at twice a week.

But, once you hit the age of 30, that number falls to 86 times a year. Then, when you hit the dreading 40, it falls even further, to 69 (lol) times a year. Of course, this is all completely understandable as the older you get, the more responsibilities you have. On top of this, as your body gets older, it begins to decline - with the likes of arthritis and fatigue likely to take their toll on the amount of sex you have.

“Some people want to have sex every day, and they are. Other people have other priorities, so sex isn’t on the top of their list, so they are having it less,” marriage therapist and professor at the University of Southern California, Mary Andres, told USA Today.

According to Dr. Sanam Hafeez, the main reason couples struggle in the love-making department is because of things like stress, medical issues, smartphones and declining connections. But, Hafeez does say that doesn't mean your sex life is over, just that you need to put a bit more effort in.

“Check in throughout the day. A kissy face emoji or a quick message sending love keeps the connection going,” Hafeez explained to NBC News. “Also, something as simple as walking together after dinner without phones, or dancing, can get good brain chemicals flowing".

Of course, it should be noted that there is no such thing as the perfect amount of sex. All relationships are based on communication, so it's all about finding a happy medium between too much and too little. In other words, don't worry about comparing your sex life to other people's, it's pointless.