Gen Zers are facing professional and financial pressures, high rates of loneliness and depression, and now fears of a relationship derailing their lives. According to a study from Brigham Young University’s Wheatley Institute in Provo, Utah, and the nonprofit Institute for Family Studies, only about 1 in 3 young men and 1 in 5 young women between the ages of 22 and 35 said they were confident in their ability to approach a romantic interest.

The Impact of Social Media

The popularity of social media has turned rejection into a public spectacle, beyond one’s friend group, school, community, or neighborhood. This has led to a fear of doing anything that could be embarrassing, making it difficult for young people to form meaningful connections. Experts say that dating and intimacy require taking some risks, and the more Gen Z cocoons to ‘protect’ themselves from outside factors, the more they close themselves off to the possibility of connection.

Paul Eastwick, professor of psychology at the University of California, Davis, and director of the attraction and relationships research laboratory, notes that people have been facing the fear of rejection for millions of years. However, the added pressure of social media has made it more challenging for young people to navigate their dating lives.

Consequences of Risk Aversion

The inclination to turn inward and avoid risks can diminish one’s availability to new relationships and good relationships, according to Richard Weissbourd, an American child and family psychologist and senior lecturer at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. While there are some positive aspects to Gen Zers’ approach to risky behaviors, such as lower rates of teen pregnancy and a focus on protecting their peace and work-life balance, the fear of rejection and embarrassment can lead to a lack of interaction, which is essential for forming relationships.

Original reporting: KRDO (Colorado Springs metro) — read the source article.