If you think housing, social, and employment issues are causing stress, you might be right. If you’re a millennial, you may notice that it’s affecting your health. Research predicts that by midlife, Millennials will suffer from more health problems than their parents, and the data behind that prediction is truly alarming.
Here’s the part that surprises most people. When you think of the “most stressed generation,” you probably think of teenagers glued to their smartphones or Gen Z working on their first job. However, according to APA’s 2023 Stress in America Report, the average stress level for people ages 18 to 34 was a 6 out of 10, while the average stress level for people 65 and older was just 3.4. Millennials and Gen Z are not just feeling a little more stressed than older generations. They belong to completely different categories.
Millennials’ lives are different from previous generations, which is a major source of stress. Research shows that even though Millennials have lower rates of teen pregnancy, smoke less, and use less alcohol and drugs than previous generations, their overall lower quality of life puts them at higher risk for serious health problems like cancer, diabetes, and heart disease by midlife.
Stress is caused by three major factors. A lack of good jobs, rising housing costs, and increasing social media pressure. And the health effects of that chronic stress are already visible.
As a Millennial myself, I have to say I believe that. There is always pressure on people in their 20s and 30s, but this age group is an especially tough time. Some stresses are timeless, like deciding what career you want to pursue, who you want to spend your life with, and whether you want children. But now there’s a whole new weight on top of all that. By paying attention to these three areas of stress, you can take steps to avoid putting your health at risk.
Millennials are the most stressed generation for three reasons.
1. Millennials feel the effects of job insecurity more than any previous generation
The lack of good employment for Millennials is manifested in the rise of “zero-hour contracts” (jobs only come when you’re “needed”), the rise of college graduates taking jobs that don’t require a degree, and the explosion of the “gig economy” (freelance and temporary work-based employment).
The lack of a stable job with opportunities for growth impacts Millennials’ income, sense of job security (virtually non-existent), and self-esteem due to the lack of a meaningful title at work. According to Deloitte’s 2024 Global Gen Z and Millennial Survey of nearly 23,000 respondents across 44 countries, nearly one-third of Millennials say their jobs and work-life balance contribute significantly to their stress levels, due to long working hours and a lack of control over where and how they work.
Not knowing how you’re going to pay for yourself in the long run can be stressful enough. Add to that the reality that even mild depression and anxiety related to job stress can increase the risk of chronic diseases like heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes, and suddenly the gig economy’s growing pains look much more severe than anyone had warned.
2. Millennials are living with ongoing stress as the housing crisis drags on
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Rising housing costs are reflected in the fact that millennials are renting out shared housing and spending more time at home. A 2024 study found that rising housing costs can induce chronic stress and lead to mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression, while also limiting people’s ability to allocate resources to health-promoting activities.
And the stress gets even worse when parents and grandparents bring up how old they were when they bought their first home. A 2023 study found that more than three in five Americans are stressed about home prices, with millennials the most affected, with nearly half reporting having skipped a meal to pay for a home.
The structural issues behind housing costs are real and not easy to solve individually, but it’s important to focus on what you can control. Stress reduction tools like aromatherapy diffusers, exercise, and better sleep habits are small but meaningful ways to reduce your body’s chronic stress response while navigating larger financial challenges.
3. What was supposed to unite Millennials is now making many Millennials feel worse.
The rise of social media has changed the way millennials maintain relationships, causing social problems and a lack of emotional support from both co-workers and family. A Baylor University study that followed nearly 7,000 adults for nine years found that both active and passive social media use were associated with higher levels of loneliness, leading researchers to point out that platforms designed to bring people together may actually be contributing to the loneliness epidemic.
Research has found that 82% of Millennials report feeling pressured to behave a certain way by social media, and Millennials are more likely to suffer from chronic loneliness than any other age group. Spending less time passively scrolling and more time investing in relationships that actually meet your emotional needs is one of the most evidence-backed things you can do for your mental health.
Our social skills may be at their limits, but Millennials are more likely to rely on herbal remedies and natural tools for stress than prescription drugs or alcohol, which is a good sign. The deeper concern is to ensure that that does not mean mental health issues will remain untreated. Research shows that the long-term health risks are very high, so finding low-cost or free mental health support is worth making a priority.
Nicole Bradley-Bernard is a freelance writer who has written for multiple publications including YourTango, FINE Magazine, New York Gal Magazine, and Momentum Magazine.
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