It’s probably no surprise that people of certain generations have a lot in common. After all, each generation shares cultural experiences ranging from popular music to world-shaking historical events. That’s why there’s more than a little truth to broad generalizations about succeeding generations. People raised during the depression (who became part of those often referred to as the Greatest Generation) are known for their work ethic, resilience and sacrifice. And so it goes, with Boomers, Gen X and Millennials each seemingly having shared sensibilities (even if reality is not quite so neat).
The latest generation, Gen Z (born between 1997-2012), is already being defined with some well-known if stereotypical descriptions. But wait a minute; are blanket descriptions of such a large group of people really stereotypical or is there more to it? A bit of evidence implying generalizations are fairly if only generally accurate comes from a surprising source: statistics about people seeking therapy. According to a survey by the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), “American teens are heading to therapy at growing rates. More than one in four (27 percent) Generation Z adults—including nearly one-third (31 percent) of Gen Z women—report that they spent at least some of their teen years talking to a therapist.”
How does this compare to previous generations? According to the AEI, the difference is striking: “For Generation X and baby boomers, therapy was a fairly rare experience. Only 10 percent of Generation X Americans and 4 percent of baby boomers spent any time in therapy as teenagers.”
Anika Nayak, writing for HuffPost.com, used this survey and its results as inspiration to explore exactly what issues Gen Z brought up in therapy. These include:
Anxiety. The oldest Gen Zer’s were 10 years old when the iPhone was introduced (2007). You can take that as emblematic of the centrality of technology in the typical Gen Zer’s life. Which is why suffering anxiety is perfectly understandable for this age cohort. Technology in all its forms can bring an overload of information and instill a sense of powerlessness. Revealing how widespread feelings of anxiety are, Nayak cites research that “found that nearly half — 46% — of Gen Zers surveyed said they felt anxious and stressed at work almost all the time.”
The Pressure Of Finding A Job. The employment rate among Gen Z is a bit dismal. As of December 2025, the unemployment rate for people 20-24 was hovering around 8.2%. That alone puts pressure on a person looking for a career. But the economic outlook is actually worse than that because pay for certain work may be stable but the cost of living has skyrocketed. No wonder Gen Z is seeking more and more therapy.
Body Image. This is a concern that people from previous generations might have difficulty understanding. Of course many people have always been self-conscious about their looks. The difference is that now people are bombarded with social media posts of people presenting idealized images, sometimes retouched to make them more “attractive.” It’s understandably easy to begin doubting your own appearance.
Stress About Relationship Compatibility. Another by-product of growing up with technology is access to bits and pieces of information. Being exposed to concepts but only in a superficial way can cause its own problems. Nayak touches on this point when she writes, “Whether it’s nerves about asking someone out, moving in with a significant other, or just decoding your partner’s attachment style, it’s normal to be worried about compatibility. Many romantic relationship issues are often brought up by Gen Zers in a therapist’s office.” But unless someone truly understands attachment style, there may be a focus on it as buzz words instead of an embedded and deeply significant pattern of behavior.
Gaining Support From Community. This is a complex issue that may not have a direct cause and effect. A person may feel different from their friends or family because they’re struggling with anxiety or another mental health issue. This can cause them to feel isolated and reluctant to reach out to their community for help. But not reaching out can in fact increase their feeling of isolation. What might really help is understanding that your friends and family are almost always ready to help you even if they are not facing the same issue. That is what “community” is all about.