The Unhappiest Generation: Gen Z and Mental Health
One in four girls in the UK is depressed by the time they are 14, according to research from University College London. More than half of “Generation Z,” the young people born between 1995 and 2010, say anxiety is keeping them from finding a job.
This growing unhappiness has come despite lower levels of drinking, drug-taking, teenage pregnancy and antisocial behaviour, some typical indicators of troubled mental health in adolescents.
So what is going wrong for these young people? Technology is often held up as the key culprit. For Generation Z, it has been embedded in their lives since childhood.
Jean Twenge, a psychologist and author of a book on Generation Z called “iGen,” feels sure that 2012 was a tipping point. For the first time a majority of adults had smartphones, and she says, “social media moved from optional to mandatory among teens.” The average British 13-to-15-year-old now spends between one and three hours on social media every day.
Twenge continues, “[Teens] stopped hanging out with each other in person as much, and started to sleep less, and we know from decades of research these are good for you.”
Four in 10 adolescents get fewer than seven hours a night, falling far short of the recommended nine hours for their age group, and those who spend more time online are significantly more likely to be sleep deprived. If teens have long-lasting sleep loss, it can lead to “impaired brain development, neuronal damage and permanent loss of developmental potentials,” as one study puts it.
So how will Generation Z fare in the future? There are no solid statistics yet, but Gen Z do seem to be better than previous generations at talking about mental health and getting the help they need. They may also be dealing with their feelings in a healthy way, rather than turning to alcohol or drugs. One study indicated that 88 per cent of 14-to-24-year-olds say that following creative pursuits has helped them feel less anxious.
Vocabulary:
depressed – (adjective) feeling very sad, hopeless, and without enthusiasm, often as a result of a clinical mental health condition, “She felt depressed for several weeks after losing her job, but talking to a therapist helped.”
Generation Z – (noun) the demographic group of people born between the mid-to-late 1990s and the early 2010s, “Generation Z is known for being highly fluent in digital technology and social media.”
antisocial behaviour – (noun phrase) behavior that is disruptive, harmful, or annoying to other people and society, “The city introduced new rules to curb antisocial behaviour in public parks at night.”
held up as – (phrasal verb) presented, exhibited, or pointed to as a primary example of something, “Her dedication to public service is often held up as an inspiration to young leaders.”
key culprit – (noun phrase) the primary cause, person, or thing responsible for a bad or unfortunate situation, “Experts believe that rising global temperatures are the key culprit behind the recent extreme weather patterns.”
embedded in – (idiom/expression) firmly fixed, integrated, or deeply established within something else, “Honesty and hard work are core values that are deeply embedded in the company’s culture.”
tipping point – (noun) the critical moment in a situation, process, or system beyond which a significant and often unstoppable change takes place, “The arrival of affordable electric cars marked a tipping point for the automotive industry.”
hanging out with – (phrasal verb) spending informal, casual time socializing with someone, “He spent his summer weekends hanging out with his classmates at the beach.”
falling far short of – (idiom) failing to reach a particular standard, goal, expectation, or requirement by a large margin, “The team’s performance ended up falling far short of what the coach had hoped for.”
sleep deprived – (adjective) suffering from a severe, harmful lack of sleep, “Staying up all night to study left him completely sleep deprived and unable to concentrate on his exam.”
sleep loss – (noun) the condition of not getting enough sleep over a period of time, “Chronic sleep loss can weaken your immune system and make you more susceptible to illnesses.”
fare – (verb) to perform, succeed, or get along in a particular situation or over time, “It remains to be seen how the new business will fare in such a highly competitive market.”
solid statistics – (noun/plural phrase) reliable, accurate, and undeniable numerical data or facts, “We need solid statistics on local housing demands before we can start building new apartments.”
turning to – (phrasal verb) starting to use, rely on, or seek help from something or someone, especially during a difficult time, “Instead of turning to unhealthy habits when stressed, she started practicing mindfulness.”
creative pursuits – (noun/plural phrase) activities or hobbies that involve artistic expression, imagination, and creating new things, such as painting, writing, or playing music, “Engaging in creative pursuits like cooking and pottery helps him unwind after a long day at the office.”