Gen X more committed to monogamy but 'Ok' with one-night stands

A new research has revealed that although the current generation has become increasingly more open-minded about sex than they were two decades ago, they are less tolerant of infidelity.

The study conducted by Laura Watt, a sociology researcher at the University of Manchester, found that British people are now more accepting of sex before marriage, same-sex relationships and one-night stands than they were in the 1980s, the Independent reported.

However, it was found that just one person in 10 was supportive of partners who are unfaithful, suggesting that the concepts of monogamy and faithfulness are more deeply established than ever.

The researcher, who analysed data going back to 1990 from the National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles, discovered that the number of respondents aged between 18 and 30 who felt that casual sex was wrong fell dramatically from more than six in 10 to just 37 per cent in a decade.

It was found that acceptance of same-sex relationships rose to around 70 per cent from the past; while nearly nine in 10 people said it was wrong for a married person to have sex with someone other than their spouse.

Respondents considering it wrong for people to have more than one partner if they were living with someone rose by 4 per cent, while the number opposing the idea of multiple partners increased by 7 per cent.