Remember the “slacker” generation? Well, they’re not slacking anymore. Gen X, born between 1965 and 1979, born between 1965 and 1979, are now the most stressed-out bunch in our society. And honestly, can you blame them? They are caught in a perfect storm of pressures that would make anyone’s hair grey.
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Gen Xers have been the most stressed generation for over a decade. In their 40s and 50s, Gen Xers have consistently reported higher stress levels than other generations since at least 2012.
A Penn State study in 2012 found that Gen X had significantly higher stress levels than other age groups, reporting an average stress level of 5.8 out of 10. This was notably higher than Millennials (3.4) and Baby Boomers (4.4). The American Psychological Association’s (APA) annual Stress in America survey from the same year corroborated these findings, showing that both Gen Xers and Millennials reported an average stress level of 5.4 on a 10-point scale, higher than Boomers (4.7) and Matures (3.7).
LinkedIn research in 2019 found that Gen Xers were still extremely stressed compared to the generations around them, with work-life balance, job security, and a sense of purpose being among the top stressors. More recent information from 2021 shows this trend is still in progress, as 22% of Gen Xers confess to struggling with stress daily, compared to 17% for Millennials, 14% for Gen Zs, and 8% for Baby Boomers.
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There are several causes of elevated stress levels among Generation X. They are often caught up in the "sandwich generation" who have to take care of old parents and their kids simultaneously. There is also a considerable financial aspect involved since many individuals from this cohort are lagging in retirement savings despite nearing retirement age. During their peak earning years
GenX encountered numerous economic challenges, including the bursting of the dot-com bubble, the Great Recession, and the COVID-19 pandemic. They were forced into an abrupt adaptation from analog childhood to digital adulthood, where they had to cope with technological changes on both personal and professional fronts. This created another level of anxiety because they were constantly required to be knowledgeable about emerging technologies.
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The picture regarding Generation X's retirement savings is worrisome based on various research findings, which indicate huge deficits. Natixis Investment Managers found that the majority (48%) fear they will have enough saved to enjoy retirement and another 31% fear they’ll never save enough.
The average retirement savings for Gen X households is approximately $150,000, far below the estimated $1.5 million experts say is required for a comfortable retirement. Even more alarming, the National Institute on Retirement Security reports that the typical Gen X household with a private retirement plan has only $40,000 in savings, and about 40% of the group has not saved anything for retirement. The Schroders 2023 U.S. Retirement Survey paints a slightly more optimistic but still troubling picture, showing that Gen X workers, on average, believe they will need around $1.1 million in savings to retire comfortably but expect to have only $660,000 saved, indicating a substantial shortfall of about $440,000.
Despite all this stress, Gen X has developed a unique resilience. They’re the generation that grew up figuring things out independently, and that adaptability serves them well now. While they may be the most stressed, they’re often the best equipped to handle it. As the American Psychological Association points out, “Stress at any age is still stress,” but Gen X seems to have a knack for weathering the storm, even if they feel more pressure than most.
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