The Loneliest Generation

Data suggest that Generation Z, the teens and young adults coming of age right now, feels lonelier than any other age group. But we don’t know why. Is it a symptom of digital and social media or the hyper-scheduling of their daily lives? Does it stem from anger about or hopelessness of dwindling future prospects? No one has the answers, but it’s concerning as loneliness can negatively affect both physical and mental health. In this episode of Shrinking It Down, Dr. Gene Beresin and Dr. Steve Schlozman look to the literature and to their child psychiatrist instincts to help parents and other adults brainstorm why this might be, and what we can do to support the young people in our lives.

Thank you for joining in this conversation. Do you have ideas about why teens today are so lonely? We’d love to know. Please write to us! 

Media List

• Solipsism (Philosophy Terms)
• Blue Pill or Red Pill (The Matrix)

• The Death of a Pet (MGH Clay Center)
• New Cigna Study Reveals Loneliness at Epidemic Levels in America (PR Newswire)
• Why Are Teens So Lonely and What Can They Do to Combat Loneliness? (MGH Clay Center)
• Why are Gen Z and millennials calling out boomers on TikTok? ‘OK, boomer,’ explained (USA Today)
• Why Activism Is Good For Teens – And The Country (WBUR Commonhealth)
• Kids, Marches, and the Media (MGH Clay Center)
• Teaching for the Test or Teaching for Real Life? (MGH Clay Center)
• New backup QB plucked from high school (KCTV News)
• Nats make road-win history, capture 1st WS title (MLB News)

Episode research by Joshua Eng

Episode produced by Sara Rattigan

Music by Gene Beresin

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