Gen Z Has Fewer Relationships Than Millennials at Same
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- Katherine Twamley at University College London found 49% of Gen Z reported being in any kind of steady relationship versus 57% of millennials at the same life stage (ages 16-29)
- The study drew on two rounds of a UK national survey: 2010-2012 for millennials and 2022-2024 for Gen Z, both covering the 16-29 age range, and was presented at the Love, Actually and in Theory conference in Edinburgh
- The relationship decline is driven mainly by fewer Gen Z-ers living with their partners compared with millennials at the same age, Twamley said
- Maximiliane Uhlich at the University of Basel, who was not involved in the study, linked part of the shift to Gen Z being the first generation to grow up with smartphones and social media, visible in how they approach interactions
- Twamley said rising house and rental prices are forcing Gen Z to live with their parents longer, which may make it harder to form stable relationships
- Uhlich suggested Gen Z may be more selective about commitment, possibly having witnessed high divorce rates among their parents
- A separate analysis of the Gen Z participants suggested those not in stable relationships had worse mental well-being, though Twamley noted causality could run either direction
Why it matters: The 8-point gap (49% vs 57%) reveals that prior studies undercounted non-cohabiting partnerships, masking the true scale of the Gen Z relationship decline. The team separately found a correlation between being unpartnered and worse mental well-being, and flagged housing costs, social media, and COVID-era isolation as likely contributing factors worth future study.
