Gen Z is an interesting mix of expectations and fears. And according to a report from Gallup and the Walton Family Foundation focused on all things Gen Z, their mental health challenges are different from those of previous generations.
“Voices of Gen Z: Perspectives on America’s education, well-being, and the future.According to “Generation Z (generally considered to include people born between 1997 and 2012, and currently aged 11 to 26), have better mental and emotional health than previous generations. I realized that I was suffering. Self-reported, 10% described their mental health as “poor,” while another 26% of their girlfriends said it was “fair.” More than half of respondents said they felt anxious just yesterday, while the percentage of elderly people ranged from 25 to 44 percent, depending on the generation.
“Gen Z feels different on a daily basis than other generations,” the report states. “Many Gen Zers report experiencing a lot of negative emotions in the previous day, including stress, anxiety, and loneliness. They report feeling lonely at least 7 percentage points higher than Millennials, Gen X, Baby Boomers, and the Silent Generation.
However, most Gen Zers also report feeling optimistic, believing they have a “great future.” And that includes two-thirds of people who rate their mental health as “fair.” However, the percentage has softened somewhat, with only 44% saying they are not ready for that future.
The findings are based on a survey of more than 3,000 young people aged 12 to 26 in April and May.
Studying Generation Z
according to news release For the report, released Thursday, the organizations launched a “Gen Z Panel.” The panel is billed as “one of the largest and most comprehensive national research panels to track the emotions and behaviors of this generation over time.”
“This is a critical time for young people and the adults who support them,” Romy Drucker, director of education programs at the foundation, said in a statement. “This partnership with Gallup will generate insights and perspectives that will help us all become better guides, better listeners, and better partners as the next generation emerges.”
The report found a link between self-reported mental health and the grades Gen Z earned in middle school and high school. The report found that the better your mental health, the more likely you are to report good grades.
Among their issues, 40% said they were at least somewhat concerned about gun violence in schools.
More evidence of Gen Z anxiety
Other studies have reached similar conclusions about young people from a mental health perspective. 2022 American Stress SurveyAccording to the American Psychological Association’s annual poll, 62% of young women ages 18 to 34 say they are “completely overwhelmed by stress most days,” while 51% of men in that age group say they are “completely overwhelmed by stress most days.” answer the same way. It’s important to note that not all of these young people are her Generation Z. They categorized age differently.
In May, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a report calling poor mental health a public health problem. Even before that, the Deseret News reported that “the mental health of millions of American youth has become so fragile that U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek H. Murthy issued an urgent public health advisory. “The order has been issued.”
He argues, in part, that “the untold death toll, pervasive fear, economic insecurity, and forced physical distancing from loved ones, friends, and communities during the pandemic are the challenges young people are already facing. This is exacerbating the unprecedented stress we are currently experiencing.”
