Gen Z’s growing unhappiness raises concerns | Photo: (View Apart | Shutterstock)
Generation Z, also known as Gen Z, is made up of people born between 1995 and 2010. These young people grew up in a highly digitally connected world, which profoundly influenced their characteristics and behaviors. Furthermore, they tend to value diversity, inclusion and sustainability, showing a strong sense of social justice and concern for environmental issues.
However, another characteristic of this generation that has stood out is unhappiness. A Gallup survey released this month, in partnership with the Walton Foundation in the United States, shows that for every four Gen Z respondents, three say they are at least a little happy, but the rate tends to reduce as people reach adulthood. .
Among young people aged 12 to 14, 80% consider themselves “happy to some extent”, while 68% of 24 to 26 year olds feel the same. The study involved more than 2,000 people in the United States aged between 12 and 26 to find out if they are happy and what factors influence their feelings of happiness.
Reasons for Generation Z’s unhappiness
Below, psychologist Sonia Ramos, academic coordinator of the educational group Human SA, which promotes courses on the Science of Happiness and Well-Being, lists the main reasons why generation Z does not feel happy. Check out!
1. Social pressure
They face social pressure to fit into society, achieve unrealistic beauty standards and meet academic and professional expectations.
2. Mental health
There is growing concern about the issue of mental healthpresenting rates of anxiety, depression and other psychological conditions.
3. More pressure
Worry about the future, school stress and peer pressure.
4. Economic uncertainties
It’s a generation that grew up during a time of economic uncertainty, with many struggling to find stable, well-paying jobs, especially after completing their education.
5. Negative effects of social media
Although the social media can be a powerful tool for connection and expression, they can also have negative effects on self-esteem and mental well-being, leading to harmful comparisons, cyberbullying and a feeling of inadequacy.
6. Concern about social and political issues
They are concerned about social and political issues such as climate change, social inequality, racial injustice, and social justice issues. The feeling of helplessness in the face of these problems can affect your emotional well-being.
Despite the constant digital connection, young people of generation Z can face loneliness (Image: Halfpoint | Shutterstock)
7. Isolation and loneliness
Despite being constantly connected digitally, some Gen Z youth may feel isolated or lonely, especially if they struggle to make meaningful connections in reality.
“It is important to recognize that these challenges affect individuals in different ways, and not all members of Gen Z will experience these issues in the same way. However, addressing these issues requires a collective effort from society, including emotional support, accessible mental health resources and significant social changes”, explains the psychologist.
Source of happiness for generation Z
According to Zach Hrynowski, one of the study’s researchers, people in Generation Z, ages 18 to 26, are less likely to evaluate their lives positively than older generations were when they were in the same age group. According to the research, two factors are related to happiness for this group: the time they have to to sleep and relaxing at the weekend and the feeling that work or school is interesting and has a purpose.
For Sonia Ramos, generation Z feels happiness when they find meaning and importance in what they do. “For them, it is not important to have good salaries or promotions, like previous generations, but rather to feel pleasure in their activities and realize the meaning of their work and the impact it generates. Another factor is that this generation comes from parents workaholics who lived under pressure and did not enjoy life. They were children who had a ‘busy schedule’ as a child,” he comments.
Reversing the dissatisfaction of generation Z
Psychologist Sonia Ramos, from Human SA, lists tips to help promote well-being and satisfaction among generation Z. Check it out!
1. Promotion of mental health
Adopt actions to promote mental health, encouraging open conversations on the topic, providing access to health resources psychological support and reducing stigma around mental health care.
2. Emotional education programs
Provide emotional education and coping skills development programs to help young people deal with stress and life challenges.
3. Opportunities to build positive relationships
Create opportunities to build positive and supportive relationships to combat social isolation and loneliness, both online and offline.
It is important to implement school wellness policies that alleviate academic pressure (Image: Drazen Zigic | Shutterstock)
4. School Wellbeing
Develop and implement school wellness policies, reducing excessive academic pressure and providing support to students on their educational journeys.
5. Involvement in social and political actions
Encourage young people to get involved in social and political actions, offering adequate training so they can make a difference in their communities and in the world.
6. Healthy use of social media
Promote healthy use of social media by teaching self-regulation skills and encouraging balance screen time and outside of them.
7. Culture of acceptance and inclusion
Celebrate diversity and promote a culture of acceptance and inclusion, allowing young people to feel valued for being who they are.
8. Opportunities to develop
Provide learning and skills development opportunities that can adequately prepare young people for the job market, helping them build and achieve their career goals.
“These are just a few ideas to help promote well-being and satisfaction among generation Z. It is important to address these issues holistically, considering the social, educational and cultural environment in which young people are inserted”, concludes the expert.
By Carla Osada
—
THE TIME reinforces the commitment to quality, professional and Minas Gerais journalism. Our newsroom produces responsible information every day that you can trust.
Follow THE TIME on Facebook, on Twitter and on Instagram. Help grow our community.
