Anyone working with Gen Z knows that mental health is a big concern for this generation. The reminders are everywhere—news headlines, social media, and a host of studies highlighting teens’ struggles.
OneHope’s Global Youth Culture research confirms these trends. Nearly 3 in 4 U.S. teens report feeling lonely, and about 2 in 3 struggle with anxiety or depression. These numbers are sobering. But our Research Team wondered—what if we could go beyond identifying the problem to determine what helps teens thrive?
OneHope’s mission is not just to understand today’s young people but to do so in order to guide them toward the hope found only in Christ. So how could our research go beyond identifying a problem and move toward finding a solution?
With this in mind, we analyzed our January 2022 Global Youth Culture survey data from U.S. teens to discern a fresh dimension of understanding today’s teens. The survey used the Child and Youth Resilience Measure (CYRM), a widely validated tool for measuring resilience.
Resilience represents the reserves a person draws on for stability–in good times and bad. It helps young people overcome challenges, grow in a healthy way, and adapt to difficult situations.
Resilience is closely connected to how they respond to crises and recover from setbacks. Looking at our research through this lens helped us identify factors that support a young person’s ability to navigate life’s challenges—insights that youth pastors, teachers, and family members can use to help build a foundation for resilience.
What Did We Learn?
Resilience Matters: Resilient teens experience significantly better mental health, with lower rates of depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts compared to their peers with low resilience. This foundational learning is probably not a surprise.
Resilience is Spiritual: Christian teens were twice as likely to have high resilience scores, suggesting that faith plays a meaningful role in helping young people navigate challenges.
Family Nurtures Resilience: Among all influences, family proved to be the most critical factor in building resilience. Regardless of family structure, teens who felt known, safe, and cared for at home were more likely to be resilient.
Purpose Builds Resilience: Of teens with high resilience, 74% believe they have a purpose in life. Only 2% of those with low resilience report feeling a sense of purpose.
An Invitation to Be Curious
Looking more deeply at Gen Z and mental health has helped us to see how factors like strong family relationships, a sense of purpose, and faith can help in building resilience. When we see findings like these, it spurs us to think more deeply to ensure that we apply these insights in an impactful way. This is a great reminder that data provides a snapshot of reality, but it should also spark curiosity. Research isn’t just about answers—it’s about starting conversations and asking better questions.
As you consider these findings on resilience, where do you see opportunities to bring hope? How might your church, organization, or family take action to support the next generation? How can you cultivate a holy curiosity that inspires meaningful action and deeper investment in the well-being of the next generation?
Together,
The OneHope Team
OneHope Team
Leave a Reply