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 your friend group, school, community, or neighborhood. This has led to a generation that is more risk-averse, afraid of doing anything that could be embarrassing or lead to rejection. Experts say that this fear is ruining their chances at meaningful relationships.
Dating and intimacy require taking some risks. However, the more Gen Z cocoons to ‘protect’ themselves from outside factors, the more they close themselves off to the possibility of connection — which is an antidote to the loneliness epidemic. According to Richard Weissbourd, an American child and family psychologist and senior lecturer at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, ‘We learn a ton about ourselves when we have romantic relationships, and I think learning to have a good relationship is a really important task.’
The Role of Dating Apps
Dating apps have also played a role in the rise of risk aversion. These apps allow users to approach each other without taking any risk, as they can decide whether they are interested in someone who has already shown interest. However, this lack of interaction is an essential part of forming relationships, according to Paul Eastwick, professor of psychology at the University of California, Davis.
Experts say that Gen Zers need to take more risks and be open to the possibility of rejection and embarrassment. By doing so, they can form meaningful relationships and connections that can help alleviate the loneliness epidemic.
Original reporting: El Paso News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
