Gen Ztressed: A New Generation of College Students - TimelyCare (2024)

Born in 1995 and later, Gen Z includes 74 million young people — about 24% of the population. According to the latest APA Stress in America Survey, Gen Zers are 27% more likely to report their mental health as poor than other generations, compared to 15% of millennials and 13% of Gen Xers. That’s why Gen Z could have another name — Gen Ztressed. Given this reality, what can higher education do to help Gen Z college students thrive?

What makes Gen Z different than other generations?

Generation Z grew up with cell phones, had Instagram before starting high school, and don’t recall a time before the internet. And because Gen Zers make up one in four Americans, it’s important to understand that Gen Z represents a clear break from past demographics. It’s a diverse generation that grew up in an era with social issues like school shootings, the Great Recession, the Occupy movement, protests over police brutality, and the legalization of gay marriage.

Sources of stress for Gen Z

When looking at data from APA Stress in America survey respondents, it’s not hard to see why stress and mental illness has increased:

• 75% of Gen Zers said mass shootings are a significant source of stress.
  Gen Zers are more stressed than adults about issues in the news, such as the separation and deportation of immigrant and migrant families (57% versus 45% of all adults) and sexual harassment and assault reports (53% versus 39%).
• 64% report money and work to be stressors. Personal debt (33%) and housing instability (31%) were significant sources of stress, while nearly 28% cite hunger or food insecurity.
• 62% reported that the political climate is a significant stressor, and more than two-thirds (69%) reported that the nation’s future causes them stress. Most Americans (61%) also disagreed about whether the country is on a path to being stronger than ever.
• Twenty-four percent of adults identified discrimination as a significant source of stress — the highest percentage since 2015. Black adults (46%) and Hispanic adults (36%) reported discrimination as a significant source of stress, compared with 14% of White adults.

How has the pandemic affected a generation of students?

As of May 10, 2021, there have been 158,651,638 confirmed cases of COVID-19 across the globe, including 3,299,764 deaths. Having grown up in peacetime with advanced technologies, it’s no understatement that this catastrophe will define how Gen Z navigates the world as adults.

Recent reports confirm Gen Z’s psychological well-being and mental health have been negatively influenced by COVID-19. According to one report, over 60% of Gen Z is concerned about COVID-19 and almost half of them feel anxious or depressed. Difficulties relating to Gen Z’s psychological well-being were heightened when lockdown measures were imposed. And, the latest observations suggest that the mountains of COVID-19 information on social media overwhelmed users, having a detrimental influence on their well-being. While Gen Z grew up as digital natives, they also experience a higher-than-average level of information overload.

Another effect of COVID-19 on Gen Z is they are rethinking the value of a traditional four-year college education. For instance, matriculation in short-term credential classes over the last year increased by 70% to nearly 8 million over the same period last year. That increase came as freshman college enrollment dropped 16%.

An Associated Press study reported that 71% of Americans believe it’s beneficial for some students to attend a community college instead of a four-year institution, with a similar number agreeing that a community college education is an excellent choice. Given community colleges cost a third of what students pay at a four-year college, it’s no wonder Gen Zers are considering alternatives including apprenticeships, trade schools, and other specialized industry training.

How higher education can support Gen Z

As higher ed leaders reimagine programs and services to attract and support Gen Z students, they need to promote iterative change based on what works. It’s not an option to simply stay the course. Here are a few principles derived from The Chronicle of Higher Education that can help college administrators and educators as they consider expanding student supports for Gen Z students.

As campus leaders consider how to support Gen Z students at a time when the pool of high-school graduates is shrinking and expectations are increasing for student success, these insights can serve as touchpoints for how colleges can reach and serve this new generation of young adults.

How can your campus improve supports for Gen Z students?

TimelyCare partners with colleges and universities to expand access to care and improve student health for the better. Watch the panel discussion on Gen Ztressed: Student Mental Health in the New Now to learn how college and university leaders can lead the change on their campuses to support students who are wondering what comes next.

Hear from higher education experts from EVERFI, The Claremont Colleges, Healthy Minds Network, and The Jed Foundation (JED) on how to create a college campus environment that promotes mental well-being, and can help students navigate what they’re experiencing — the new now.