"For younger adults, romance has turned into something to be debated, theorized and optimized for but not actually engaged in," writes Christine Emba of the New York Times in a recent article citing Wheatley Institute's recent report "The Dating Recession."
Only about 30 percent of young adults go on at least one date a month, even though half of young adults actively want to be in a relationship. Rising costs of dating, lack of confidence in dating skills, and fear of rejection are some of the biggest factors holding them back.
Emba notes that "this generation came of age as the social environment fractured and courtship norms broke down," mentioning the various online movements that typify a fearful, avoidant approach to dating.
The Dating Recession report highlights some strategies to break out of this negative dating culture: "We need a concerted effort to teach young adults healthy dating skills, something that receives little attention from the general culture or even the relationship education field...Our young adults need effective road maps that guide them to and through the dating experiences that will connect their marital expectations to actual unions.