The World of Millennial Relationships

November 3, 2019

No Strings Attached.

Are we a generation of devotees or free spirits? New research by Currys PC World has unearthed how Millennials feel about commitment.

Commitment & routine in day-to-day life

How does the nation fare in terms of routine and commitment in day-to-day life?

While almost 1 in 5 people surveyed (19%) admit that they are averse to commitment, 68% of us value routine in our lives. The group who crave variety the most (14%) are the free-spirited Millennials (24-37-year-olds), who is also 250% more likely to be afraid of commitment than their parents’ or grandparents’ generations.

The generation split:

41% of Gen Zs (18-23-year-olds) dislike having too much routine in their life.
Millennials (24-37-year-olds) are 250% more likely to be afraid of commitment than their parents’ and grandparents’ generations.
20% of Gen X (38-53-year-olds) say commitment provides them with the security they crave.
20% of Baby Boomers (54-72-year-olds) are in favor of routine because it encourages healthy habits.

Commitment to work & travel

While 1 in 5 of those surveyed think life is too short not to leave a job to see the world, there appear to be numerous factors holding people of every generation back, from family ties to the pressure of earning money or maintaining employment.

And the gender divide? 14% more men than women would leave a job to travel, while 11% more women than men value long-term employment at the same company.

The generation split:

20% of Gen Z (18-23-year-olds) would only stay at a company if they got a promotion within a year.
21% of Millennials (24-37-year-olds) would love to quit their job to travel but aren’t brave enough.
63% of Gen X (38-53-year-olds) would consider leaving their job to travel.
70% of Baby Boomers (54-72-year-olds) value the consistency of long-term employment.

Commitment to relationships & dating

Who is the most committed generation?

Millennials (24-37-year-olds) and Baby Boomers (54-72-year-olds) confess to having the biggest problem with fidelity.

Millennials have cheated on their partners more than any other age group. Although, Baby Boomers are most likely to have cheated on multiple occasions.

Looking at the gender divide, interestingly 1 in 10 men claim an open relationship is their choice, which is over 3 times more than their female counterparts.

1 in 5 Gen Zers (18-23-year-olds) can’t wait to settle down romantically.
41% of Millennials (24-37-year-olds) have cheated on their partners.
Over half (55%) of Gen X (38-53-year-olds) say they would NEVER cheat on a partner.
65% of Baby Boomers (54-72-year-olds) love being in a committed relationship.

Commitment to friendships & meeting new people

When it comes to meeting new people, almost 1 in 4 people surveyed (23%) suffer from social anxiety and almost a quarter wish they felt more comfortable talking to strangers (24%). Comparing demographics, nearly double the number of men (16%) would actively put themselves in a situation where they’ll meet new people than women (9%).

The least sociable of generations is the young Gen Z (16-23-year-olds), who not only avoid conversations with strangers the most but also claim they are happy with their existing friends and therefore don’t feel the need to meet new people (23%).

The generation split:

25% of Gen Z (18-23-year-olds) are happy with their existing friends, so don’t feel the need to meet new people.
56% of Millennials (24-37-year-olds) feel anxiety when socializing with strangers and wish they felt more confident speaking to new people.
55% of Gen X (38-53-year-olds) love meeting new people and forging new friendships.
Only 8% of Baby Boomers (54-72-year-olds) actively put themselves in situations where they can meet new people.

Commitment to money matters

Baby Boomers (54-72-year-olds) are 60% less likely to break their budget than the junior Gen Zers (16-23-year-olds).

In terms of homeownership, men (11%) are nearly twice as likely as women (6%) to say that owning their property makes them feel too tied down.

The generation split:

Gen Z (18-23-year-olds) are twice as likely to ignore their budgets than their parents’ and grandparents’ generations.
30% of Millennials (24-37-year-olds) say they are frivolous with money and prefer to enjoy the present instead of worrying about the future.
20% of Gen X (38-53-year-olds) frequently find themselves in debt.
25% of Baby Boomers (54-72-year-olds) claim to be good at saving and put money away each month.