Final answer:
Premarital sex has become common in young adults in the past 40 years, with surveys and studies showing a shift towards more relaxed attitudes. However, traditional values like monogamy still persist among many individuals. The United States has higher rates of disapproval for premarital sex compared to other countries in the survey.
Step-by-step explanation:
Premarital sex has indeed become common in young adults in the past 40 years. Data from surveys and studies have shown that the majority of young people today have more relaxed attitudes towards premarital sex compared to previous generations. For example, a study found that a significant percentage of teenagers and college students agree that it is acceptable for an unmarried individual to have a child and that waiting until marriage for sex is not realistic. However, this does not mean that traditional values like monogamy have disappeared, as many individuals still express a desire for a committed and mutually exclusive relationship in the future.
These changing sexual attitudes can also vary across countries. In an international survey, the United States was found to have higher rates of disapproval for premarital sex compared to other countries. While around 25 percent of respondents in the US believed premarital sex is always wrong, the average among the 24 surveyed countries was 17 percent. This indicates that cultural and societal factors can influence sexual attitudes and behaviors.