happn, the real-life dating app, has released a survey highlighting a new cultural approach: intimacy is increasingly viewed through the lens of wellness and mental self-care rather than pure physical performance. According to the study, more than half of Brazilian Singles now consider sexual well-being to be a fundamental pillar of their health, well-being, and emotional balance. This perspective matures alongside the users, climbing from 41% among youth aged 18-25 to 58% for users aged 36 and older, demonstrating how ageing reframes sexuality as a source of emotional connection and health.

This search for personal balance has also redefined solo intimacy, stripping it of historical taboos and establishing it as an active mental health tool. The survey shows that 34% of respondents define masturbation as a legitimate self-care habit that helps relieve stress and ease mental load. This trend is especially pronounced among women, with 43% viewing solo pleasure as a form of self-care, whereas men are more likely to treat it as a natural physical escape when not dating (33%). This approach goes hand-in-hand with a decline in sexual anxiety, as 32% of participants feel that performance pressure has decreased over time, allowing them to focus entirely on personal comfort, boundaries, and wellness.

When it comes to shared intimacy, emotional connection and trust are the ultimate priorities, mentioned by 61% of all participants. However, the data reveals a generational divide among women: while only 35% of young women prioritise emotional trust above all, this requirement skyrockets to 74% as they grow older (36+). For younger women, the immediate priority lies more in stress relief, relaxation, and emotional regulation (41%) than in physical pleasure alone. This focus on mindful emotional connection correlates directly with overall satisfaction: satisfaction increases with age, reaching 33% among older adults, compared to just 23% for youth.

Yet, opening up about these desires early in the dating phase remains a complex hurdle. Although 42% of respondents say they feel very comfortable sharing their desires or fantasies right at the start of a conversation, a major gender gap exists: men are generally far more comfortable bringing up the topic right away (41%), whereas the majority of women prefer to wait until a baseline of trust is established (56%). Furthermore, women frequently find that their biggest barrier is a lack of confidence in expressing what they like (39%), whereas men are more likely to be held back by the fear of intimidating their Crush or ruining the mood (38%).

"We are witnessing an evolution in how Singles are approaching dating and intimacy today. Our users are detaching from outdated pressures and redefining sexuality as an essential, mindful part of their overall well-being. By moving away from performance-driven goals and focusing on self-awareness, trust, and mental wellness, singles are creating healthier connections, both with themselves and with their future partners”, says Karima Ben Abdelmalek, CEO and President of happn.

*happn survey conducted in August with 1.084 users in Brazil