Three Professionals Discuss the Perplexing Fact that Gen Z Struggles to Achieve Contentment
Say you've been yearning to relive your twenties? Me too, buddy! This decade is often a golden age for many, filled with learning, excitement, and adventure. Yet, being young ain't for the weak-hearted. It's a rollercoaster ride with its ups and downs, taking you on a journey through tons of twists and turns.
But for Gen Z, it seems like life just keeps going on and on, never ending. For them, happiness and hope, for heaven's sake, feels like an impossible dream for this generation. Check out the recent Global Flourishing Study, done by Harvard University alongside Baylor University to get an idea.
They looked into the well-being of over 200,000 young people across 22 countries and found something shocking—for the first time ever, young people between the ages of 18 and 29 are in a happiness crisis. It's flatlining for an entire generation, and many of them can't seem to figure out how to reignite that emotion.
Are Gen Zers the only ones struggling? Not exactly, but according to several studies, they certainly are one of the most affected. For instance, a recent American Psychological Association study shows that over 90% of Gen Zers have experienced at least one physical or emotional symptom due to ongoing stress. However, despite their high rates of stress, they're the least likely to talk about it with others, because they don't want to burden others.
So, what's going on here? Did we miss something along the way? To shed some light on this question, I reached out to three mental health experts and asked them for their insights on this topic. Here are some of their theories on why Gen Z is struggling to find happiness:
It's All About Pressure to Perform
Kelsey M. Latimer, Ph.D., psychologist and CEO of KML Psychological Services, suggests, "Some in Gen Z appear overwhelmed with the pressure to be the best in all things, ensuring they have the best college applications and are best positioned for the future."
The pressure to excel and be perfect is significant within this generation. In fact, a recent Gallup study showed that almost one in three Gen Zers believe they have to be perfect. Interestingly, this number is even higher among girls (40%) compared to boys (26%).
Be In Constant Evolution or Be Left Behind
Lynn Zakeri, owner of Lynn Zakeri LCSW Clinical Services, echoes Latimer but goes one step further. She says, "Gen Z inherited the pressure to be emotionally fluent, socially conscious, digitally present, and endlessly evolving—with no pause to just be."
With technology and innovation skyrocketing, there's no better time to be a business leader. But, has the advent of tech left us with the growing pressure to constantly evolve? Has stillness become incompatible with the modern workplace and lifestyle? Zakeri proposes that Generation Z is struggling to find happiness because society as a whole is too engrossed in innovation and not introspection.
Social Media and Instant Validation Are Addictive
Lastly, Daren Banarsë, MA BACP, a senior psychotherapist with a private practice in Central London, England, brings up another observation. He reveals, "I see young adults who've never learned to sit with discomfort, who experience panic when their phones die, who feel physically ill when Instagram is down."
This isn't a solitary opinion. During an interview with NPR back in 2017, Jean M. Twenge, Ph.D., professor of psychology at San Diego State University, mentioned the idea that the increase in smartphone usage in 2012 might have had a direct impact on the rise of loneliness.
While research has been conducted around technology's impact on young people for years, until recently, much of the conversation was based on theories. However, now we're beginning to discover a major connection between social media and how it impacts young people's self-image and self-worth.
Gen Z is truly struggling to find happiness. As business leaders, it's in our hands to drive change and create spaces that foster happiness for our employees, and that starts with giving Gen Z the freedom to come to work with their whole self, even if they're struggling to find joy. The more they see that your business is a safe space for them, the more they'll be able to find community, hope, and dare I say, happiness.
** Notes:**
- Nearly 1 in 5 Gen Z high school students have seriously considered suicide.
- Over half (58%) of young adults report a lack of meaning or purpose in their lives, and half say their mental health suffers from "not knowing what to do with my life."
- Financial insecurity is a major stressor: 56% of young adults worry about their financial well-being.
- Social pressures, including the impact of social media, identity issues, and the ongoing pandemic's effects on social isolation and mental health, worsen Gen Z's struggles.
- Despite mental health challenges, Gen Z is more likely to seek therapy, with 55% of young adults and millennials having been to therapy.
During this Mental Health Awareness Month, it's concerning to see the mental health struggles of Generation Z, particularly their crisis of happiness as indicated by the Global Flourishing Study. In the workplace, we can foster well-being and mental health by creating an environment that supports their whole self, including addressing the pressure to constantly evolve, the addiction to social media for instant validation, and the stress caused by financial insecurity. As leaders, it's essential to prioritize mental health awareness and workplace-wellness, contributing positively to their mental health and overall health-and-wellness.
