Dating Survey: Millennials Spread Emotional Needs Across Matches

A new survey from Dating.com suggests that many millennials are rethinking how they approach emotional intimacy, increasingly distributing their emotional needs across several relationships rather than relying on a single romantic partner. The findings point to growing emotional fatigue among the generation and a shift toward more flexible, compartmentalized relationship models.

The report is based on responses from 2,000 millennials and frames the trend against a backdrop of prolonged economic uncertainty, political tension, and digital overload. According to Dating.com, these pressures have left many millennials feeling emotionally drained, with exhaustion becoming “a baseline” rather than a temporary state. As a result, traditional relationship expectations can feel overwhelming.

Rather than avoiding intimacy altogether, the survey suggests millennials are being more selective about how and with whom they share emotional responsibility. Nearly half of respondents said they would consider a “parallel relationship,” where emotional and physical needs are met by different partners. Dating.com emphasized that this approach is about sustainability, noting: “This isn’t about avoiding relationships. It’s about choosing the format that feels the most sustainable.”

Digital connections play a significant role in this shift. Sixty-five percent of respondents said they find it easier to open up emotionally to an online companion than to a long-term, in-person partner. More than half reported being open to long-distance relationships that remain online, while others cited the emotional and logistical demands of offline relationships as a deterrent.

The survey also highlights the growing importance of non-romantic support systems. Many respondents said they rely on friends, therapists, and online connections to carry emotional weight traditionally placed on romantic partners. Fifty-one percent said they prefer dating or befriending people who are in therapy, and 12% actively filter for it. Meanwhile, 40% said having a platonic “online soulmate” is acceptable even while in an in-person relationship.