Young Americans face a “dating recession” as relationship engagement declines

A new report from the Institute for Family Studies describes a “dating recession” among young Americans. The 2025 National Dating Landscape Survey, which analyzed 5,275 unmarried adults aged 22 to 35, found that while 86% of respondents expressed interest in or openness to marriage, only 31% reported dating at least once a month.

Research suggests that financial pressures, dating anxiety, and past relationship trauma contribute to this trend. Among those surveyed, men reported dating more frequently (36%) than women (26%).

In his new book, “Generation Uncoupled: America’s New Gender Divide and the Crisis of Human Connection,” Daniel Cox of the American Enterprise Institute argues that these struggles are linked to a lack of interpersonal skills. Cox suggests that modern parenting styles, which emphasize individual autonomy and uniqueness, may have inadvertently discouraged the development of compromise, empathy, and self-sacrifice necessary for long-term partnerships.