Yes, data consistently shows Gen Z reports significantly higher rates of mental health issues like anxiety and depression compared to previous generations, attributing this to factors like social media pressure, economic instability, global crises, and increased openness to discussing mental health, though this openness also leads to more diagnosis and seeking therapy.
Research by the Walton Family Foundation states that 42% of Gen Zers struggle with depression and feelings of hopelessness, which is nearly twice the rate of people over the age of 25, at 23%.
Surveys show almost two-thirds of Gen Z members have reported ever experiencing a mental health problem—higher than any other generation. And 2023 data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found 40% of U.S. high school students had persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness.
Mental health is still a big issue for Gen Z. They're the most likely generation to say they're prone to anxiety (28% say this) and to report that social media stresses them out (18% say this). Since 2020, there's been a 25% rise in Gen Z reporting a mental health condition.
Beyond job security, Gen Z also has to grapple with the impending threat of climate change. Growing up amid constant news of wildfires, floods and rising global temperatures, many young people feel a sense of nihilism that is driven by the media they consume and their experiences in the real world.
Whilst boomers and millennials may use the 😂 emoji, this has long since been deemed 'uncool' (or 'cheugy') by Gen Z. Instead, this has been replaced by the skull (💀) or the crying emoji (😭), dramatising the idea of 'dying with laughter'.
Recent research shows that members of the Baby Boomer generation have worse health than previous generations did at the same ages—diabetes, heart disease and other chronic illnesses are more common.
Across much of the world, it is no longer middle-aged adults who are the most miserable. Instead, young people, especially Gen Z, are reporting the highest levels of unhappiness of any age group.
Bae – Boyfriend or girlfriend.
Gen Z are typically self-driven, collaborative, and diverse-minded. They value flexibility, authenticity, and a pragmatic approach to addressing problems. Gen Z are misunderstood. Contrary to stereotypes of being “lazy” or “coddled,” Gen Z is entrepreneurial and adaptive.
In 2024, the 10 healthiest countries in the world according to CEOWORLD were:
They're going to be around a long time. Compared to the 70-year life expectancy of baby boomers and the 85-year life expectancy of Gen X, Gen Z is predicted to have a life expectancy of over 100 years.
While 73 percent of all Gen Z say they believe in God or a higher power and 47 percent believe Jesus is the only way to God, those numbers drop significantly among young adult women ages 18–24.
Recent surveys reveal that young adults self-report anxiety disorders at higher levels than older generations. Technology and uncertainty are driving forces in young people's anxiety rates. Managing tech use, focusing on in-person social experiences, and taking action can help ameliorate anxiety.
Gen Z, born between the mid-1990s and early 2010s, is often characterized as the most emotionally aware generation in the workforce. Arguably, they're more adept at recognizing and articulating their feelings.
For Gen Z, the 😭 (Loudly Crying Face) emoji usually means something is overwhelmingly funny, cute, or heartwarming, signifying "crying with laughter" or being emotionally moved, rather than actual sadness, often replacing the older 😂 emoji for intense amusement. It's used for exaggerated, positive reactions to things like relatable humor, adorable pets, or touching moments.
DTR = define the relationship! That typically means going from just “seeing each other” to putting a label on it - as in you're calling each other BF/GF/partner. It's a big (sometimes scary) step in dating and this will help you figure out if you're actually ready.
But it does provide some rough guidelines as to how soon may be too soon to make long-term commitments and how long may be too long to stick with a relationship. Each of the three numbers—three, six, and nine—stands for the month that a different common stage of a relationship tends to end.
A Breed in Decay: Why U.S. Millennials and Gen Z Are Dying at an Alarming Rate — Faster Than Any Other Generation in Recent History.
Key points. New research shows Millennials and Gen Z exhibit loneliness and alienation more than other generations. It is possible to be technologically "connected" and socially disconnected simultaneously. Face-to-face meetings can be helpful for combatting loneliness.
“Often referred to as the 'unluckiest generation,”millennials have had to adapt to rising costs of living and an unpredictable job market during their most formative career years.
Some consider millennials to be one of the heaviest generations. In the U.K., researchers found at least seven in 10 people born in the millennial generations will be overweight or obese before they reach middle age. Baby boomers only faced rates of five in 10.
Gen X: Forgotten Generation. As the nation enters the Peak 65® era, new research from the Alliance for Lifetime Income's Retirement Income Institute reveals that Generation X is at the greatest risk of an unsecure retirement.
It is a known fact that lifespan increases with each generation. For baby boomers, the average life expectancy is 70 years, for Gen X its 85, and newer generations like Gen Z and Alpha will likely exceed the 100-year mark.