Isolation, fear of the future, psychological fatigue: a large-scale survey of 5,000 young French people aged 15 to 29 paints a portrait of a generation marked by a series of crises. Conducted by Elabe for the Aix-en-Provence Economic Forum, the study highlights a persistent sense of uncertainty, far beyond the stereotypes often associated with Generation Z.
A youth under constant pressure
Since the Covid-19 pandemic, young people have grown up in a climate of successive crises: health, economic, geopolitical, and climate. Added to this are hyperconnectivity and constant social pressure. As a result, a sense of unease is setting in.
According to the survey, 64% of 15-29 year olds say they have already experienced feelings of loneliness, with nearly 30% experiencing it regularly or constantly. This feeling of isolation particularly affects students, especially at university, where online courses and the fragmentation of academic paths exacerbate this sense of individual withdrawal.
Harassment is another major source of anxiety. Nearly 44% of young people surveyed reported having been victims, whether at school, in the street, or at work. Adding to this vulnerability is a broader climate of insecurity: 38% fear that an armed conflict could break out on French soil, reflecting an international environment perceived as unstable.
A professional future deemed fragile
The concerns aren't limited to the present. They extend massively into the future. Nearly four out of ten young people fear losing their jobs, and one in two believes that tomorrow's work will be more difficult, less secure, and less well-paid. For 64% of them, landing a job that truly matches their aspirations is almost a privilege.
Retirement offers little more reassuring prospects. Around 80% of those surveyed doubt the long-term viability of the system. This distrust fuels a feeling of anticipated downward mobility: the idea that the social protections enjoyed by previous generations may no longer exist.
From a psychological perspective, the situation is worrying. Approximately 30% of young people report suffering regularly or constantly from mental health problems. This proportion is even higher among young women and NEETs, meaning young people not in employment, education, or training.
Fewer ideals, more a search for stability
According to political scientist Anne Muxel, deputy director of Cevipof at Sciences Po, these vulnerabilities now constitute a marked generational trait, reflecting a future that has become "unreadable." Faced with this uncertainty, young people seem to be refocusing on what is essential.
Nearly two-thirds prioritize a calm and peaceful life over the pursuit of grand collective ideals. Revealingly, the climate emergency, despite its omnipresence in public debate, is cited as a primary source of anxiety by only 18% of respondents. Concrete, immediate, and personal concerns take precedence. This generation appears less driven by grand, unifying causes than by the search for security, stability, and a sense of belonging. Aware of the difficulties, they define themselves less by optimism or rebellion than by a pragmatic desire to maintain their equilibrium in a world perceived as unstable.
