Young Adults Are The Most Stressed Generation

While the findings won't surprise many people, the American Psychological Association released the results of a study that confirmed that the most stressed generation of Americans is the so-called and now already infamous Millennials, Americans who have come of age since the year 2000. Additionally, the survey found that the greatest life stressors are jobs and money.

An Update: Gen Z Has Overtaken Millennials

This article, published in 2013, remains interesting for historical reasons — but as of now, Gen Z, the generation following Millennials, has overtaken them in more ways than one. Yes, these Gen Z-ers are now becoming young adults, while Millennials already can see middle age looming. But also, Gen Z is even more stressed. While Millennials had 9/11 and a great big recesion, Gen Z is facing climate change, a COVID pandemic that doesn't seem to have an end in sight, and a myriad of social issues. 

This look at Millennials is fascinating because it shows that the "youth of today" always tends to get blamed for social ills, while also facing the brunt of the stress. That has a lot to do with the fact that young people — no matter what generation they happen to fall into —are saddled with so many social responsibilites.

Just How Stressed Is the Millennial Generation?

Millennials, Americans who were born between 1981 and 1996, report greater stress about life in general than any other age group in the United States. On a scale of 0 to 10, Millennials on average rate their stress at 5.4, compared to 4.9 for all Americans considered together.

The oldest Millennials came of age just a year before 9/11.

Millions of Millennials are unable to find the financial means to start homes and families of their own.

Millennials More Dissatisfied with Health Care

The American Psychological Association survey also found that young adults were more likely than other groups to express dissatisfaction with their health care options. Unlike generations of young people that came before them, today's young adults are keenly aware of the potentially disastrous consequences of not having health insurance. This may be because they are just more tuned into certain aspects of society, or because there is a lot of coverage of bankruptcies and foreclosures following high medical bills, and coverage of the stories of people allowed to die because their insurance did not pay for expensive procedures, but young people are keenly aware of medical care costs.

Although the Affordable Health Care Act of 2010 (the so-called Obamacare) permits millions of adult children to remain on their parents' health insurance policies, this option expires at the age of 26, leaving young adults with chronic health conditions unable to find health coverage until the law changes in early 2014.

In a survey report entitled Stress in America: Missing the Health Care Connection, the American Psychological Association reports that:

• Only 17% of Millennials report that their doctors help them manage stress.
• Only 23% of Millennials report that their doctors help them make healthy lifestyle changes.
• Only 25% of Millennials give their healthcare systems a grade of "A."
• Fully 49% of Millennials report they aren't managing their stress well.

What Can Improve Health Outcomes For 18- To 33-Year-Olds?

There doesn't seem to be a lot on the horizon that would make the realities of economic life easier for 18- to 33-year-olds easier in the United States or in most of the rest of the world, but there are at least seven ways young people can manage stress more effectively, whether or not their doctors are available to help them.

1. Get more sleep.

Getting at least 6 or 7 hours of uninterrupted sleep every night, not just on weekends, is essential for preventing chronic diseases. Young people of African heritage are especialy vulnerable to developing type 2 diabetes after prolonged sleep deprivation.

2. Keep a diary (the old-fashioned way, in a book) or blog.

Expressing your feelings in writings helps you understand and deal with them. The physical act of writing with pen and paper gives you more time to process your feelings, but blogging, choosing appropriate topics for a public audience, also relieves stress.

3. Don't panic about feeling panicked.

Anxiety sometimes is a blessing--if it motivates you to seek help. Even if asking for psychological or financial help results in "learning experiences," you put distance between you and the source of your anxiety by taking constructive action.

4. Be careful whom you sleep with.

Independent of sexual issues, attachment to a sleeping partner leads to better sleep (more delta-wave sleep), and trying to sleep with someone you don't know leads to poor sleep. And in younger adults, sleep is a major determinant of health or disease.

5. Ignore stereotypes, especially when they are applied to you.

The people who find resilience that allows them to persist in the pursuit of their goals develop a healthy "I don't care" attitude about what other people think. It is especially important to ignore comments to the effect of "People like you can't."

6. If you can't afford to take but one supplement, take fish oil.

Studies of medical students have found that the omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil help lower anxiety and inflammation (aches and pain after physical exertion). Fish oil is cheap, it doesn't have any side effects, you can buy it just about anywhere, and it works. As little as one capsule may actually make a difference in how you feel, 3 to 5 a day is probably optimal.

7. Hang in there 'til next year.

Don't put off medical care if you don't absolutely have to, but look forward to next year. Health insurance rates in 2014 will be drastically lower for many young adults who can't afford health insurance at all now.

The one medical intervention you absolutely should not put off? If you are so stressed out that you are thinking about suicide, call a suicide prevention hotline right now. Things actually may get worse before they get better, but suicide is the self-treatment for disease that can't be undone.