Present some major causes of depression among the Gen Z people in 21st century?

Depression is a serious mental health problem among the young generation in modern society. It is a disease that comes from emotions and is affected by mental factors around, making the patient become apathetic, and insensitive to everything. It has an impact on how you feel, think and behave which can lead to a variety of emotional and physical issues. The core symptom of depression is anhedonia, which is defined as a lack of interest or a loss of pleasure in things that normally bring individuals joy. GenZ adults, born between 1997 and 2010, are reported to have the highest level of stress compared to older generations. Actually, teenagers tend to become depressed because of several major reasons, including parents’ expectations, interpersonal relationship in school, and family factors.

Expectations from parents are considered major causes leading to depression among teenagers. Due to the competitive market nowadays, parents put tremendous pressure on teenagers. For example, teens are forced to go to cram school after school and then stay up late in order to complete their homework or prepare innumerable tests. Also, teenagers are required to study diligently and excel in academic performance. Further, parents are eager to cultivate interests and want their sons or daughters to show achievement in extracurricular activities. Due to that, teenagers have to play some sports, learn a second language or more languages, play musical instruments and draw some paintings. The demands on teenagers are so high that they can hardly have free time to do what they are really interested in. Once teenagers feel that they are unable to follow up with all these expectations and live up to people’s standards, they will likely become depressed.

Another obvious cause associated with teenager depression is difficulties in peer relationships. To teenagers, social activities and peers become vital parts of life increasingly. If a teen finds that he or she has trouble fitting in with other classmates and he or she isn't accepted by peers, it will result in lacking a sense of belonging and having feelings of loneliness. Besides, teenagers without friends and even being ostracized by peers, may feel extremely sad and perhaps start to doubt their values . Lastly, some GenZers lack confidence or social skills. For instance, some of them are too shy to talk with others or some of them don’t know the best way to get along with others well.

The reasons contributing to depression of teens do not end with parental expectation and peer relationship, family problems are probably the most influential reasons. First, unfavorable family structure is one of the problems. For example, some young people come from broken families, such as parent divorce or one of parents passed away earlier. Accordingly, they feel uncomfortable because they don’t have a complete family but their friends do, and it will bring them a sense of depression. Research further reveals that teens have a higher risk of depression when they experience the drastic conflict during the process of parent divorce. In addition, some cases of teens have insufficient family support. They are usually neglected by parents, which makes them think that they are not a vital member at home. Worst of all, some teens lack safety because of living under fear of domestic violence. For example, some teens are often lashed by drunken fathers without reasons, which hurt them physically and mentally badly. Others are insulted by furious parents and bring about psychic trauma.

Depression can strike at any age, especially the stage of being a teenager. Although teenagers are supposed to be vigorous, cheerful and confident, during this period, teens are easily caught in dilemmas. To begin with, teenagers may be worried that they are unable to keep up with parents’ high expectations and make their parents disappointed. In school, they are afraid of being put aside by classmates and maintaining poor relationships with peers. When they are at home, they might encounter different kinds of troublesome problems. Due to the three causes mentioned above, it will trigger teenagers to become depressed and it seems that youngsters will not be joyful at all.