American burnout: Younger generations feel stress earlier than ever before
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Americans are reported feeling burned out younger than ever before.
According to a new survey, 25% of Americans experience burnout before age 30. The poll of 2,000 adults from Talker Research found that while most American experienced peak burnout at approximately 42 years old, Gen Z and millennial respondents, current ages 18-44, reported reaching their highest point of stress at an average age of just 25.
“As a psychologist, I’ve worked with clients across different generations, and I can tell you stress doesn’t look the same for everyone,” Ehab Youssef, a licensed clinical psychologist, mental health researcher told Talker Research. “It’s fascinating — and a little concerning — to see how younger Americans are experiencing peak stress earlier than ever before. I see it in my practice all the time: 20-somethings already feeling completely burned out, something I never used to see at that age.”
According Talker Research, peak stress periods were often associated with midlife challenges such as simultaneously managing career advancement, child rearing, and caring for aging parents. The early burnout phenomenon suggests that younger generations may be facing an accelerated or compressed experience of life stressors.
“I often hear from my younger clients, ‘Why does life feel so overwhelming already?’ They’re not just talking about work stress; they’re feeling pressure from every direction — career, finances, relationships, even social media expectations. Compare this to my older clients, who often describe their peak stress happening later in life, maybe in their 40s or 50s, when financial or family responsibilities became heavier. The shift is real, and it’s taking a toll.” Youssef said
When asked to identify the primary causes of their burnout, financial concerns topped the list, with 30% of respondents ranking money matters as their No. 1 stressor. This was followed closely by politics (26%), work-related pressures (25%), and physical health concerns (23%).
Mental health resources
- Be Well Indiana
- Indiana Suicide Prevention
- Indiana Department of Child Services’ Children’s Mental Health Initiative
- National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: 988 or 800-273-8255
- More resources
