In the US, less than half of Gen Z members are thriving in life, a rate lower than the same-age Millennial generation in the early 2000s and the lowest among all generations in the country today.
a new studyConducted by Gallup in collaboration with the Walton Family Foundation and released Thursday, it used a scale to assess whether individuals are “thriving, struggling, or suffering.”
holistic study
In April and May of this year, researchers conducted surveys among more than 3,000 individuals aged 12 to 26, and asked those who participated in the study to rate their perceptions about their current and future lives. was assigned, both of which were given high ratings in categories. Has been classified as “thriving”, the report said.
“Decisions affecting public policy, learning environments, and workplaces should not fail to consider Gen Z’s perspective, the challenges they face, and the solutions that best fit their specific needs,” the study said.
Of the 3,000 participants, researchers found that only 41% of those ages 18 to 26 thrived. In comparison, when the Millennial generation was the same age as Gen Z, Gallup reported affluence rates of 59% and 60% in 2009 and 2014.
In general, 47% of individuals ages 12 to 26 today are thriving in their lives, which is one of the lowest rates compared to other generations, such as Millennials 59%, Gen . Only the Silent Generation (aged 71 and older) competes with Gen Z, with 45% considered affluent.
The study also shows that when rating their current life from 0 to 10, 53% of Gen Z give it a 7 or higher, and 68% rate their life five years ahead as an 8 or higher. Show.
What does this mean for generational mental health?
In addition to lower life evaluations, the study also shows that Gen Z members also rate their mental health significantly lower than their older counterparts.
Only 15% of 18 to 26-year-olds rate their current mental health as “excellent,” compared to 29% of Millennials, 31% of Gen X, 39% of Baby Boomers and 33% of the Silent Generation.
The study also shows that within Gen Z, more women than men experience negative emotions, particularly stress and anxiety, but overall, Gen Z is optimistic about their future, especially when it comes to their There is an adult nearby who encourages them to pursue their goals and dreams. ,
Surprisingly, when considering the statistical disparities between black and white individuals labor market, It is noteworthy that in contrast to 30% of Hispanic and 31% of White Gen Z members, 44% of Black Gen Z members strongly believe in a promising future ahead of them.
The study found that overall, only 44% of Gen Z feel prepared for their future.
How important is generational research?
While this data sheds light on the state of our nation’s mental health, it is important to note that generational research can be challenging and may not accurately represent the diverse experiences of millions of people across the country or even the world. Is.
Generational differences arise from three main factors: standard of living, current circumstances, and the unique experiences of each generation, something the Pew Research Center has brought up in the past.
“When there is a life cycle effect at play, the differences between young and old people are largely due to their respective position in the life cycle,” Pew Research Center said,
Meanwhile, different generations have also been referred to by Pew as the “period effect”. These effects emerge from wars, social movements, economic fluctuations, scientific or technological advances, terrorist attacks, and various other events and circumstances that affect society as a whole, but not necessarily all at once. For Gen Z, a significant portion of that population has faced disruptions in their education due to the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in significant learning barriers that millennials and older generations never had to go through.