The Recession Between the Sheets: How Finances Are Killing the Mood
Over 1 in 4 adults are avoiding intimacy due to money worries. Learn how finances are reshaping sex and relationships.
Money problems aren't just showing up in bank statements. They're making their way into bedrooms, too. Economic uncertainty is changing how people date, connect, and experience desire. From skipped date nights to rising anxiety around intimacy, financial stress is reshaping modern relationships in quiet but powerful ways. To better understand this shift, ZipHealth surveyed 1,000 adults across the US and UK to explore how money (or the lack of it) is affecting sexual wellness, confidence, and connection.
Key takeaways
- Over 1 in 4 Brits (28%) and Americans (26%) have avoided sex or intimacy due to financial stress.
- Financially satisfied people are up to 6x more likely to report sexual and emotional satisfaction in their relationships.
- 45% of Americans and 39% of Brits are turning to solo intimacy as an alternative to partnered sex.
- About 3 in 10 adults are avoiding dating or new relationships due to economic uncertainty.
- 44% of Americans and 38% of Brits have felt like they're "not enough" in relationships because of their financial situation.
Financial pressures impacting love, sex, and confidence
- Financially satisfied people are less likely than financially dissatisfied people to experience sexual performance anxiety:
- UK 1.9x less likely (29% vs. 55%)
- US 1.5x less likely (29% vs. 44%)
- Financially satisfied people are up to 6x more likely to report sexual and emotional satisfaction in their relationships.
- Over 1 in 4 Brits (28%) and Americans (26%) have avoided sex or intimacy due to financial stress.
Top alternatives to partnered intimacy, by country
US:
- 45% solo intimacy (e.g., masturbation)
- 30% pornography or adult content
- 14% dating apps with no intent to meet
- 5% AI or chatbot-style intimacy tools
UK:
- 39% solo intimacy (e.g., masturbation)
- 32% pornography or adult content
- 10% dating apps with no intent to meet
- 3% AI or chatbot-style intimacy tools
When money problems get personal
- Over half of Brits (60%) and Americans (53%) said a lack of affordable date nights has negatively impacted their sex life.
- 44% of Americans and 38% of Brits have felt embarrassed or like they're "not enough" in relationships because of their financial situation.
- About 3 in 10 adults in both countries have avoided dating or new relationships due to economic uncertainty.
- Over 1 in 4 Americans (26%) and nearly 1 in 5 Brits (18%) have stayed in a romantic or sexual relationship longer than they wanted to because of financial reasons.
Methodology
We surveyed 500 Americans and 500 Britons to explore how economic stress in 2025 is quietly reshaping sexual wellness, desire, and relationships. Among Americans, the average age was 42, 55% were male, and 45% were female. Generationally, 4% were baby boomers, 24% were Gen X, 52% were millennials, and 20% were Gen Z. Among Britons, the average age was 42, 51% were male, and 49% were female. Generationally, 7% were baby boomers and 37% were Gen X, 38% were millennials, and 18% were Gen Z.
About ZipHealth
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Fair Use Statement
This article is for informational purposes only. If you'd like to share these findings for noncommercial use, please include proper attribution with a link to ZipHealth.