Why are so many Millennials unhappy/dissatisfied with their personal lives? (parent, issues)
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As a millennial, I can tell you a large percentage of us don't fit the media narrative of what we are supposed to be. There are a lot of us with careers, families and a good work ethic. There are a good percentage that go through life with a victim mentality. Some parents teach this while kids are in school by ignoring personal responsibility. Parents prop them up by continuing to support them, something I don't think happened in previous generations.
Another big thing is social media. It tends to cause "life comparisons". They think their "friends" are better off. People tend not to post the negative aspects of their life on social media.
Well, for one thing, the suicide rate among young people is increasing, and people have always had the option of killing themselves.
As far as why oldsters keep posting bout Millennials, that's a good question, but the reason I do (speaking only for myself) is that most of us do have Millennials in our lives, either through work or family, or both.
You are correct that suicide among young people is increasing, though it is primarily teenagers, who are not Millennials, but the next post-Millennial generation. Millennials are in their 20's and 30's right now.
However the highest suicide rates are among middle-aged adults (45-54). See link below.
You and they are fortunate -- but to answer your question, I have both kinds in my life (as I think most people do) -- the mostly successful and mostly happy Millennials and the "spoiled" and/or unhappy kind, too.
I could say that equally about every generation of people I know. There are spoiled entitled people of all ages, and same with successful and happy. No significant differences in distribution of those traits by age.
You are correct that suicide among young people is increasing, though it is primarily teenagers, who are not Millennials, but the next post-Millennial generation. Millennials are in their 20's and 30's right now.
However the highest suicide rates are among middle-aged adults (45-54). See link below.
I could say that equally about every generation of people I know. There are spoiled entitled people of all ages, and same with successful and happy. No significant differences in distribution of those traits by age.
You are correct, but more than one source is blaming the Internet and social media for the increase in the suicide rate among young people, and the Internet did not enter the world until 1990/91 and Facebook has been around for less than 15 years. I don't mean to -- or want to -- turn this into an argument, though. Even if it we were talking about just one apparently healthy person, it would still be tragic.
And as far as Millennials being less happy and less successful in general than other age groups, that might be true, but I just wonder why the perception is otherwise? It is not just us oldsters saying that the Millennial generation is less satisfied and happy than other generations, but the young people are saying it, too. (And I would guess that the speaker in the video is also a Millennial, and he would know more about this than I would!)
Being an aging citizen of the U.S. my thoughts go to "they have not had to struggle for anything"...use plastic for instant gratification and that's done it. Don't wait for anything, buy it now. I see it in my very catered to grandkids.
As a millennial, I can tell you a large percentage of us don't fit the media narrative of what we are supposed to be. There are a lot of us with careers, families and a good work ethic. There are a good percentage that go through life with a victim mentality. Some parents teach this while kids are in school by ignoring personal responsibility. Parents prop them up by continuing to support them, something I don't think happened in previous generations.
Thank you for posting this! This is what I post, whenever these stereotypes about Millennial dysfunction are trotted out. You'd think that nobody had a Millennial generation in their extended family at all.
The video clip mentioned "failed parenting strategies". I think that's what should be discussed, rather than Millennials who are headed toward failure. What the F happened to parenting?! Did somebody write a book about parenting, that advocated hovering over your child, doing their tasks for them to eliminate frustration and any potential for "low self-esteem" to arise, and giving them a prize for everything? Where did that come from?
The largest demographic initiating sessions of counseling and support groups in the U.S. right now is actually that of older adults, primarily boomers.
But do the Millennials in your life fit the stereotype? None of the ones among my family and friends do.
Same, but I believe cultural differences are a big factor in that.
People are so fascinated with Millennials and I struggle to see why. Can we even really gauge the impact of Millennials at this stage? It is way too early...but based on the obsession with us, I feel we're going to go down in history as the greatest generation.
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