November 8, 2024

THE STATE OF GEN Z: How the youngest Americans are dealing with a world in crisis and a future that’s been put on hold

Gen Z #GenZ

  • The coronavirus pandemic is having a notably negative impact on the mental health of Gen Zers, according to several studies. Pew Research defines the oldest of Gen Zers as turning 23 this year. 
  • Gen Zers were already dealing with stress, anxiety, and depression before the global health crisis.
  • As the most socially-driven generation, Gen Zers have been surrounded these past few years by news of mass shootings, deportations, the opioid crisis, and rising suicide rates.
  • Those issues have had a severe impact on Gen Zers, and the pandemic has compounded their stress. Many have had to deal with schools going online, disappearing job prospects, and uncertain financial situations. 
  • On top of this, many Gen Zers are taking the lead in protests against police brutality and racism.
  • In spite of the negative mental health implications, many Gen Zers have turned to creative pursuits to help them cope with the historic crisis. They have expressed interest in helping others cope, too.
  • Visit Business Insider’s homepage for more stories.
  • Ansley Cestare, 16, said the start of the coronavirus pandemic felt like a personal test.

    Her school in Flagler County, Florida, went remote in mid-March. Then the weeks-long quarantine kicked in. 

    “At first, my mental health wasn’t doing too good, and it was just the struggle of being locked up in my room all the time and not being able to go out and see people,” she told Business Insider. “That was the most stressful part because I didn’t know if I was going to get out of it.”

    Even as states reopen and the anxieties of lockdowns slowly ease, one thing still looms in the back of her mind: The uncertainty of what will happen next.

    She’s not the only young American dealing with this crisis.

    The oldest members of Cestare’s generation are turning 23 this year. Called “Generation Z,” they have endured a historic pandemic that yanked them from their educations, and have witnessed the nation barrel toward an economic crisis that’s wiped out millions of jobs just at they prepare to enter the workforce.

    Sandwiched in between these crises are the nationwide protests that followed the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, a movement largely led by Gen Z. With so much pressure to deal with at once, it’s no wonder numerous studies have found that the mental health of these young adults is in a swift decline. 

    Business Insider has taken a deep dive into the emotional state of Gen Z in the middle of one of the most pivotal years of their lives so far. We compiled data from the nonprofit organization DoSomething Strategic, the study platform StuDocu, the American Psychological Association, and the creative app VSCO. We also spoke to psychiatrists and Gen Zers themselves to gauge how they feel about the biggest news events of 2020.

    Keep reading to learn more about the state of Gen Z during the global health crisis and the George Floyd protests, and their concerns for the impact these may have on their personal and professional futures.

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