A quarter of Americans are burnt out before they’re 30, according to new research.
A survey of 2,000 adults, conducted by Talker Research, looked at how the stress of the past decade has culminated and found that the average respondent experiences peak burnout at around 42 years old.
For Gen Z and millennial adults, now 18 to 44, the highest point of their stress is occurring even younger — averaging at 25 years old.
Looking at how they got here through their current stress levels, the average person is at half of their stress capacity.
Yet, 42% are feeling even more stressed than this — with Gen Z and millennials feeling this more heavily than respondents belonging to Gen X or older (51% vs. 37%).
When asked what’s currently causing their burnout, finances were most commonly ranked as the top factor (30%).
Politics (26%), work (25%) and their physical health (23%) were also significant sources of major worries for respondents.
All kinds of relationships are weighing on those surveyed, with one in six of those who named their love life or their family as a stressor putting it in the top spot (18% each).
Ehab Youssef, a licensed clinical psychologist, mental health researcher and writer at Mentalyc, provided insight into why stress is peaking earlier than ever.
“As a psychologist, I’ve worked with clients across different generations, and I can tell you stress doesn’t look the same for everyone,” Youssef said.
“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: twenty-somethings already feeling completely burned out, something I never used to see at that age.”
“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.”
Among younger generations, work is the greatest point of contention (33%), with finances (27%) and mental health (24%) following suit.
Gen X respondents, baby boomers and those belonging to the silent generation said that politics is most concerning (27%), while their physical health is also an area of worry (24%).
Gen Z and millennials are not as concerned with their social life (12%) and love life (14%), while older generations say that the balance of their life and personal growth goals fall to the wayside for them (13% each.)
A third of Americans are gearing up for what they anticipate being their most stressful year yet, predicting that 2025 will be worse than the past three years.
However, more are hopeful than not, that the rest of this year will be more promising than last (42%).
When it comes to how stress will evolve with the years, 83% of those surveyed admit that entering adulthood today is more challenging than it was a decade ago.
Additionally, seven in 10 agree that it’ll only get more challenging to be an adult within the next 10 years (72%), with older Americans recognizing that more than the younger generations (75% vs. 63%).
Rebecka Parker, clinical social work and therapist, MSW, LCSW and writer at Birpnotes shared advice for how respondents of different generations can manage their stress before it becomes overwhelming:
- “For Gen Z & millennials: Digital detoxes, financial literacy education, and prioritizing real-life social connections.
- For Gen X & [baby] boomers: Mindfulness practices, setting boundaries, and proactive health screenings.
- For all ages: Prioritizing mental health, seeking therapy when needed, and fostering strong support networks.”
Survey methodology:
Talker Research surveyed 2,000 Americans; the survey was administered and conducted online by Talker Research between Feb. 7 to Feb. 10, 2025.