Which Generation is the Least Happy?

Headlines are calling Gen Z the “unhappiest generation,” but when we ask how happy they actually are, our data shows it’s not all of them feel this way

  • Young adults are the least likely age group to say that they’re happy compared to teens and Millennials
  • Older Gen Z is stuck in an emotional in-between, as young adults are the most likely to feel “neither happy nor unhappy”
  • But, despite their struggles, young adults are still optimistic about the year ahead and hopeful for what’s to come
Headlines have long called Gen Z the unhappiest generation—slapping them with nicknames like “The Anxious Generation,” much like the mental-health centered attention Millennials got before them. And honestly, it’s not coming out of nowhere. This is a gen that has come of age during some of the most turbulent times in recent history. From a global pandemic during their tween or teen years to constant climate anxiety, political chaos, racial inequality, and student debt—they’ve been hit hard. So, it’s no surprise many of them are saying they feel burnt out. They’ve talked openly about burnout from work and school and are often seeking ways to take their minds off things whether it’s a simple rebrand of their mornings or a digital detox vacation. But, does being open about it really mean they’re unhappier than ever?   YPulse has been following all of this—from Gen Z’s rising feelings of loneliness to their ongoing mental health struggles, and even the way they try to make light of it all (just look our...

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