(Barna) In 2018, Barna released Gen Z: The Culture, Beliefs and Motivations Shaping the Next Generation, a study created in partnership with Impact 360 Institute, that sought to help church leaders understand the next, next generation. Now, just a few years later, Barna and Impact 360 Institute have once again teamed up to learn more about this young generation, resulting in the new report, Gen Z, Volume 2: Caring for Young Souls and Cultivating Resilience.
Some of the key findings from the first report had to do with Gen Z’s drive—or ambition and optimism about the future—with two-thirds of then 13– to 18–year-olds desiring to finish their education (66%), start a career (66%) and become financially independent (65%) by age 30. Trends surrounding drive extend into the 2020 data as well and are taking a toll on some teens and young adults today. This article explores four profiles of Gen Z’s emotions that speak to some of the opportunity and precarity for this generation.