Challenges Faced By Millennial Couples

Each generation faces their own challenges, and Millennials are no exception. For people born between 1982 and 2000, the outlook is not always rosy and positive. After all, this generation comprising of over 80 million members has been through wars and recessions, exacerbated by the ever-increasing climate crisis.

Of course, many of these challenges affect people of all generations, but they have a particular impact on Millennials and their ability to have lasting and fulfilling relationships. Let’s take a look.

The Rising Cost of Living

Housing, tuition, basic necessities… everything is more expensive now. These costs have been rising faster than wages for quite some time, disproportionately weighing Millennials down with debt like student loans. Fewer and fewer can afford a down payment on a house without getting help from parents or an inheritance.

Partially as a result of these rising costs, Millennials are likely to start living together earlier in the relationship than previous generations simply to save on rent. Sharing a space can be difficult at first, putting a strain on a new-ish relationship. Millennials have to learn to compromise fast, or they can experience high levels of conflict.

Alternatively, Millennials may have to deal with the challenge of dating while living with their parents or with roommates because they are still saving up for getting their own place. Imagine not having a space to be openly intimate with your partner!

The price and scarcity of housing can also lead to awkward situations, such as having to live together after breaking up until the lease is up.

Online Dating

Your parents didn’t need to learn the term “catfishing” when they were dating. Gone are the days of meeting your potential partner at a dance or even at a bar. Dating apps are all the rage, from Tinder to Bumble to Hinge to many others. 21% of Millennial marriages started as online dating.

This changed the landscape for Millennials. Online dating has its advantages and drawbacks. At a minimum, you have to learn what a profile should contain and how to start a proper online conversation. You have to grab attention quickly, before your possible sweetheart moves on to the next candidate.

The ease of hooking up with and then ghosting someone creates a world of impulsive pleasure-seeking. By comparison, a monogamous relationship can seem dull. The screen beckons, promising a better encounter…

As a result, more than one is six users of dating apps confesses they are browsing to cheat on their partner, with Millennials being one of the more affected groups. Needless to say, infidelity is a huge challenge for any relationship.

Working from Home

Millennials are more likely to work from home than the previous generations. While that’s wonderful for mental health, it may not be ideal for the relationship if both partners are constantly around one another.

It’s not uncommon to start feeling like roommates rather than romantic partners when spending too much time together at home. You may not feel excited about catching up with your partner because you heard their frustrations here and there throughout the day.

Physically being in the same space for prolonged amounts of time can lead to a lack of presence and a lack of intimate desire. After seeing your partner all day, you just want to get on your phone and tune out. And you don’t seem to crave their body as much when it’s always available.

To Have or Not to Have (Kids, That Is)

Political instability, climate change, and the rising cost of living all lead Millennials to question whether or not they should start a family. There is a growing childfree movement when people choose not to have kids for various reasons, be it the negative issues we mentioned above or simply the desire to be financially free.

This is puzzling for older generations who were encouraged to start families young. Often, they put pressure on their Millennial children to reproduce, resulting in relationship conflict. Issues with in-laws/families of origin can be a major area of discontent between partners.

And if the couple does want to have kids, saving up for this monumental decision can be daunting. Many feel they should first buy a house in a decent school district, which is often out of reach. By the time both partners are ready, fertility may be lowered, especially in women.

 Two-Income Households

For those who choose to have children, childcare can become a huge challenge. Gone are the days when one parent could work a 9 to 5 while the other stayed home with the kid. Millennial households are more likely to need – not just want - two incomes, which means having to seek childcare outside of the home.

Paid childcare is expensive, and money issues can lead to increased conflict. Those who have willing parents may turn to them to watch the children. This, in turn, can lead to friction about discipline and child-rearing approaches. Either way, the lack of choice to have one parent stay at home with the kids is a challenge.

This arrangement also contributes to conflict about housework. Although Millennial men are much more likely than their fathers to help with chores and children, women still do more housework even when they have a job outside the home.

Millennials have to navigate these challenges with grace if they want to build a fulfilling relationship that stands the test of time. They can’t necessarily ask their parents for advice since the circumstances changed so much. If you are facing these obstacles in your relationship, consider getting professional help to resolve the issue once and for all.

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