It’s giving major burnout. If you feel like your life doesn’t hit the same way it did for people our age back in 2008, you aren’t just imagining it. A new Gallup Life Evaluation Index poll shows that Gen Z is having a rough time, with less than half of young adults now describing their lives as “thriving.”
Real talk: the stats are kind of heavy. Back in 2010, about 64% of people in our age range felt like they were thriving. Now, that number has plummeted to just 44%. The biggest drop-off happened around 2020, and even though there was a small rebound in 2023, the vibes are off again.
Why we’re struggling
It’s not just a feeling; it’s a mental health crisis. More than 1 in 4 adults aged 18 to 29 are currently in treatment for depression—that’s an 11-point spike since 2019.
Dr. Katrina Furey, a Connecticut-based psychiatrist and founder of Repro Psych Academy, says a perfect storm is to blame. Between growing up with constant social media access, the global pandemic, and housing markets that are lowkey impossible to break into, the pressure is immense. The social isolation from COVID-19 specifically hit our formative years hard, leaving a massive, lingering impact on how we connect with others.
The numbers don’t lie
We’re trailing in every category that measures happiness. Only 64% of us reported feeling joy the day before being surveyed—down 17 points from 2019. Plus, fewer than a third of young adults feel like they’ve actually hit their goals over the last year.
We’re also feeling pretty disconnected. Less than half of us say our relationships with partners or besties are stronger than ever, and only about 41% feel satisfied with their standard of living compared to the people around them. Even finding a mentor or leader to look up to feels harder, with only a third of Gen Z saying they have someone who makes them feel hyped about the future.
While Millennials are also feeling the crunch, the Baby Boomer generation is the only group actually reporting higher life satisfaction now than they did in 2008.
Why it matters
This data confirms that Gen Z is navigating a unique, high-stress environment that past generations didn't have to deal with. Understanding this massive shift in life evaluation is key to addressing the widespread loneliness and mental health challenges defining our generation.
