Categories: Mental Health

Gen Z Seeks Safety Above All Else

How Fear and Uncertainty Shape the Worldview of Gen Z

As a developmental psychologist and mother of two Gen Z kids, I have seen firsthand how external societal factors can profoundly shape young people’s emotional well-being. A recent survey of 1,644 young people across the US, aged 10 to 24, revealed that the top priority for these individuals is not to “be popular” or “have fun,” but rather to “be safe.”

What was once taken for granted

The findings are both illuminating and heartbreaking. As a teenager, I did countless unsafe things. My peers and I didn’t dwell on harm; we chased fun and freedom. However, previous generations may have taken safety for granted, and today’s youth are growing up in an era of compounded crises – school shootings, a worsening climate crisis, financial uncertainty, and the lingering trauma of a global pandemic.

Especially vulnerable time

Adolescence, like early childhood, is a pivotal period for brain development. Young people are particularly sensitive to their surroundings as their brains evaluate the environment to prepare them for independence. This developmental stage, when the capacity to regulate emotions and critically assess information is still maturing, makes them especially vulnerable to enduring impacts.

Enduring generational impact

Historical events have long been shown to shape the worldview of entire generations. For instance, the Great Depression primarily impacted the daily lives of the Silent Generation, those born between 1928 and 1945. Similarly, today’s adolescents, growing up amid a series of compounded global crises, will likely carry the imprint of this period of heightened fear and uncertainty well into adulthood.

Room for optimism?

Interestingly, “being kind” was rated No. 2 in our survey, irrespective of other demographics. While safety dominates their priorities, adolescents still value qualities that foster connection and community. This finding indicates a duality in their aspirations: while they feel a pervasive sense of danger, they also recognize the importance of interpersonal relationships and emotional well-being.

Conclusion

Our findings are a call to look at the broader societal context shaping adolescent development. Understanding how these perceptions are formed and their implications for mental health, decision-making, and behavior is essential for parents, policymakers, and researchers. I believe we must also consider how societal systems contribute to the pervasive sense of uncertainty and fear among youth. Further research can help untangle the complex relationship between external stressors, media consumption, and youth well-being, shedding light on how to best support adolescents during this formative stage of life.

FAQs

* How did the survey respondents rate the importance of being popular?
+ Not as highly as being safe, which was the top priority.
* What were the other priorities rated by the survey respondents?
+ Being kind and having fun were rated relatively low on the list.
* How can we support adolescents during this formative stage of life?
+ By understanding the complex relationship between external stressors, media consumption, and youth well-being, and by addressing the societal factors that contribute to fear and uncertainty among youth.

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