Data was gathered from some 27,000 respondents from various generations, and reveals that 15% of so-called Millennials aged 20 to 24 had not had any sexual partners since turning 18.
This same figure for the generation dubbed "Generation X," including those born in the mid-1960s to early 1970s, is almost three times less, at only 6%. The survey for this older set of respondents was performed when they were at exactly same age, and they were asked exactly the same questions as the current respondents.
"This study really contradicts the widespread notion that Millennials are the 'hookup' generation, which is popularized by dating apps like 'Tinder' and others, suggesting that they are just looking for quick relationships and frequent casual sex," said Sherman.
The only population that was found to have been less sexually active than today's young people, is the generation of people born in 1920s.
While some experts credit the downturn in sexual promiscuity to social media, as today's young adults simply spend less time being physically in one another's company, the authors of this latest study suggest that the explanation lies instead in a combination of an "historically high" portion of young adults living with their parents and easy access to instant entertainment and online pornography.
"This has very little to do with changing norms about sexual behavior; the generations are just different and it has everything to do with them," Sherman said.
