Generational Differences and Their Impact on Mental Health

Jean Twenge (psychologist; professor at San Diego State University) is regarded as the world expert on “generations”. She famously described millennials as “Generation Me” (also the name of her 2006 book) and first made the (controversial) connection back in 2017 between smartphones and the sharp uptick in anxiety and depression among Gen Z teens, which has since become one of our culture’s top talking points. In her recent book, Generations: The Real Differences Between Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X, Boomers, and Silents―and What They Mean for America's Future she explains how themes such as narcissism, individualism, fear and tech addiction play out between the generations (including the Boomers, Xers, and the latest cohort, “the Polars”).

In this chat we cover…Do millennials actually have it harder? Why do 60% of Gen Z girls have mental health problems? Why aren’t young people aren't getting their driver's licenses? Is modern parenting setting kids up for failure? As well as the “slow life” phenomenon.

You can catch Jean in Sydney at the Festival of Dangerous Ideas on 24-25 August, speaking at the following talks.

• The Machines Killing Our Kids
• The Generation Gulf
• Contagious Realities

SHOW NOTES

Subscribe to Jean's Substack​, Generation Tech

Here’s the teen mental health post I wrote on Substack

And here’s the Substack post about the difference in young men's and women’s political leanings

Learn more about the Festival of Dangerous Ideas here

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