Depression isn't a single generation's issue, but Generation Z (born ~1997-2012) shows significantly higher rates of depression, often linked to digital-age pressures like social media, economic instability, global events, and constant uncertainty, making them feel overwhelmed compared to older generations. While Millennials and Gen X also face rising rates, Gen Z reports the most pronounced struggles, highlighting a generational shift in mental health challenges.
However, Generation Z (those born between 1997 and 2012) reports significantly higher rates of depression than older generations.
The Silent Generation is made of about 50 million children born between 1925 and 1945. Children from this group were plagued with war and economic instability as a result of the Great Depression. During World War II, they watched America surpass its previous economic conditions and become a global superpower.
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.
Ongoing economic instability and climate crises are legitimate reasons behind Gen Z's fragility, and they are stronger than they are perceived to be. Coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic, Gen Z was forced back into a society that was evolving faster than at any point in history.
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and millennials may use the 😂 emoji, this has long since been deemed 'uncool' (or 'cheugy') by Gen Z. Instead, this has been replaced by the skull (💀) or the crying emoji (😭), dramatising the idea of 'dying with laughter'.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.
Labeling Gen Z as “difficult” overlooks the bigger picture. They face systemic issues like unrealistic job requirements, rising living costs, and overwhelming workloads. Plus, they value work-life balance, transparency, and mental health—qualities that can drive healthier workplace cultures.
Age and generation both matter for happiness. As between generations, those born before 1965 (Boomers and their predecessors) have life evaluations about one-quarter of a point higher than those born after 1980 (Millennials and Gen Z).
The Silent Generation (born roughly 1928-1945) is called "silent" because they were raised during tough times (Great Depression, WWII) and matured during the conformity-driven, anti-communist McCarthy era, leading them to be more traditional, cautious, and less rebellious than previous or subsequent generations, preferring to work within the system rather than challenge it. The name was coined in a 1951 Time magazine article highlighting their quiet, conformist nature compared to their "flaming youth" parents, emphasizing their desire to be seen and not heard.
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.
Unhappiness is hill-shaped in age and the average age where the maximum occurs is 49 with or without controls. There is an unhappiness curve. I document hump or hill shapes in age in various measures of unhappiness in many countries including the United States and the United Kingdom.
In 2021, 22% of Gen Xers admitted to daily struggles with stress followed by Millennials (17%), Gen Z (14%), and Baby Boomers (8%). Gen X may have aged its way into the most stressful part of its life, but things could be a lot worse.
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.
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.
There are a lot of different reasons why you might feel like nothing makes you happy. Certain mental health conditions like depression, anxiety, and PTSD can cause severe feelings of unhappiness, lack of motivation, and disinterest in activities that used to bring joy.
Once dubbed the “unluckiest generation,” millennials have postponed major milestones during past recessions.
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.
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.
In addition to making assertions about theunique brainsof theMillennials, authors in library literature have also noted that this generation ismore intelligent than preceding generations.