Final assignment subject sociology the lonely and fragile generation

The consequences of this problem...14III.THE CONCLUSION...16REFERENCES...18 Trang 3 OPENINGGeneration Z, by some logical definitions, is the generation that grew up in moderntimes, is c

lOMoARcPSD|38837747 VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY UNIVERSITY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES AND HUMANITIES MANAGEMENT SCIENCE ���㵣���㵣���㵣 FINAL ASSIGNMENT SUBJECT: SOCIOLOGY “THE LONELY AND FRAGILE GENERATION” Teacher: PhD Đinh Phương Linh Student: ID: Đào Thanh Thủy :20030078 Mai Anh Thư :20032702 Nghiêm Đức Anh Quân :20032695 Nguyễn Thị Thanh Trúc :20032708 Lê Thị Khánh Hòa :20032607 Đặng Diễm Quỳnh :20032696 Kinoshira Takeshi Class: Management Science – SOC1051-E TT23 Hà Nội, tháng 6 năm 2022 Downloaded by Yen Nguyen (nguyenyen.11@gmail.com) lOMoARcPSD|38837747 TABLE OF CONTENT OPENING 3 I THE DARK REALITY OF THE MODERN GENERATIONS .4 1 The background information 4 1.1 What Is Generation Z (Gen Z)? 4 1.2 Understanding Gen Z 4 1.3 What Are Generation Z Characteristics? 4 1.4 Generation Z in the Workplace 5 2 THE PICTURE OF GEN Z 5 2.1 The land of loneliness 5 2.2 The virtual world blends into the real world .6 2.3 A fish on a land .8 2.4 The pressure on “need to be perfect" 8 2.5 Alone in the crowd 10 II THE ROOTS AND CONSEQUENCES OF THE PROBLEM 10 1 The reasons for “The lonely fragile and stressed generation” 10 1.1 The external factors 11 1.2 The internal factors 12 1.3 The consequences of this problem 14 III THE CONCLUSION .16 REFERENCES 18 2 Downloaded by Yen Nguyen (nguyenyen.11@gmail.com) lOMoARcPSD|38837747 OPENING Generation Z, by some logical definitions, is the generation that grew up in modern times, is constantly evolving due to access to the Internet and digital devices from a young age (citizens of the digital age) or can also be understood in a simpler way as "the generation that carries within itself the dynamic nature of youth and a mission to continue the achievements of previous generations" They are the ones who will change and orient the future, as they dare to do, value themselves more, create trends, and have great influence on many areas of life such as entrepreneurship, fashion, music, At first glance, it may appear that Generation Z is an optimistic generation living freely and expressing its self-confidence freely But this is also just the surface of an iceberg that everyone appreciates and cares about because people only like the glitz of a new thing rather than its dark hidden corners In fact, when we take a more inclusive multidimensional perspective on Gen Z, we realize that today's younger generation is still facing many of the negatives surrounding their daily lives, loneliness being one of these A recent study has indicated that young people in the United States, known as Generation Z, have experienced feelings of loneliness greater than any other generation in modern history This can be attributed to the unprecedented access to information and knowledge provided by the Internet and an increased reliance on social networks such as Facebook and Twitter for updates about relationships with friends, family members and society at large The UCLA Loneliness Scale, developed in 1996 by psychologist Daniel Russell, is used as a benchmark in surveys The scale rates loneliness on a scale from 20 to 80; however, the average score is 43 According to a survey conducted by Cigna on 20,000 American adults in 2018 (U.S Loneliness Index Report, Cigna, 2018), 18- to 25-year-olds in the survey scored 48.3 points on the UCLA Loneliness Scale—higher than millennials (45.3 points) and Gen Xers (45.1 points) This raises the question of why we feel more out of place and alone than ever before when we live in an age of technological achievement, such as when refrigerators and coffee makers are connected to the Internet 3 Downloaded by Yen Nguyen (nguyenyen.11@gmail.com) lOMoARcPSD|38837747 I THE DARK REALITY OF THE MODERN GENERATIONS 1 The background information 1.1 What Is Generation Z (Gen Z)? Gen Z, also known as iGen or Centennials, is a term used to describe young people born from 1997 to 2012 and therefore encompass the majority of children currently in elementary and secondary school The term is used to differentiate people born after Generation Y and Millennials The oldest members of Generation Z have reached age 25, with many now out of college, getting married, and starting families They follow on the heels of their millennial predecessors (born 1981 to 1996), many of whom are now reaching those same milestones The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly affected members of Generation Z, who will inherit a world more uncertain than that which previous generations encountered 1.2 Understanding Gen Z While previous generations have been involved in social issues, Generation Z is more socially conscious than its predecessors The Annie E Casey Foundation reported that Gen Zers have a strong interest in seven key social issues: health care, mental health, higher education, economic security, civic engagement, race equity, and the environment Many Gen Zers will soon be ineligible for their parents' health insurance coverage and may struggle to pay for their own This problem is further exacerbated by increased mental health treatment among members of Gen Z; as noted by the American Psychological Association, 37 percent sought treatment in 2015 Gen Z members also prioritize education; 57 percent of those aged 18 to 21 were enrolled at either a two- or four-year college Members of Generation Z are fighting for social change and racial equity in greater numbers than previous generations 1.3 What Are Generation Z Characteristics? As a generation, Generation Z is the most diverse to date The rise of technology has been accompanied by a drastic increase in the amount of time spent online or on smart devices for this demographic In fact, one study showed that 98 percent of Gen Z members own a smartphone Research indicates that financial stability is an important issue for this group; many grew up during the recession of 2008 and watched their 4 Downloaded by Yen Nguyen (nguyenyen.11@gmail.com) lOMoARcPSD|38837747 parents struggle financially As such, they are more likely to open savings accounts early on and avoid debt later in life 1.4 Generation Z in the Workplace Generation Z is the youngest generation in the workforce, and it is not yet known how they will be defined as employees Early research suggests that they tend to be independent, hardworking, and highly educated As children of financial hardship, they have also witnessed many economic issues and are motivated by job stability and financial incentives Because Gen Z is the most diverse generation, they are concerned with issues of equality in the workplace and want to work for organizations that prioritize such Perhaps one of their most evident workplace characteristics is their penchant for multitasking Many Gen Z'ers are used to quickly switching between apps on their phones or computers and may take a similar approach when working on projects Although Generation Z is constantly connected to their devices, a recent study shows that 72 percent of respondents prefer face-to-face conversations over digital alternatives This change in preference may be due to the increased use of collaboration tools like chat and email in the workplace, which could eventually lead to a return to more traditional, interpersonal communication 2 THE PICTURE OF GEN Z 2.1 The land of loneliness Scientific research indicates that loneliness is an unpleasant and stressful experience associated with dissatisfaction with emotional needs Simply put, loneliness is a complex emotional state that exists and has existed throughout human history and will likely continue to exist in the future Modern humans sometimes harbor that emotion that we do not seem to know whether it is ingrained in the subconscious mind or whether it forces us to accept it as a necessity and live with it indifferently We should realize how lonely we used to be when we burst into tears in an empty place for no one for any reason but only to feel lost; when we stand in the middle of a vibrant party, a sea of people who still feel alone; or when we wander the streets—the familiar alleys that in our hearts are uncertain and helpless about who is around us and whether we should continue something 5 Downloaded by Yen Nguyen (nguyenyen.11@gmail.com) lOMoARcPSD|38837747 Gen Z are the people born after 1995, which makes them today's youth They are the ones behind most of the trends on social media and technology These young people have more opportunities than previous generations to connect with other people and assert their personalities The oldest Gen Z is 24 years old now and the youngest Gen Z is 12 years old now, so these young people are beginning to grow up and assert themselves Social researchers and market researchers both study them closely because they are a very important group of individuals Researchers often use these traits to describe Gen Z: Gen Z were the first true digital citizens because they grew up just as intelligent information and communication technologies began to become widely used The first iPhone was released in 2008 when some Gen Zs were already 13 years old In a world with so many communication applications at our fingertips, Gen Z's face-to- face communication is different from previous generations Gen Z doesn't necessarily have to be in the same physical location as someone else to have a face-to-face conversation; the two people can simply video chat via Zoom, Skype or Google Meet Ironically, for an increasingly connected generation like Gen Z, they are the loneliest people In the West, many Gen Z respondents said they felt lonely often Many sociologists and market researchers consider Gen Z to be the loneliest generation ever —but why? One prominent reason is that Gen Z spends more time socializing in cyberspace than creating real-life social relationships Although younger generations feel most lonely, their parents and siblings share some of that feeling This also makes sense When we look back a little at human history, we see that since the first industrial revolution—which occurred around the end of the eighteenth century and early nineteenth century—massive changes in human society began to occur People left their farms to work in factories and other places of business Village communities that had existed for hundreds of years began to disintegrate, being replaced by large urban areas full of people working in factories It seems that it is no longer suitable for those who live in such areas to have so many walls surrounding them; instead, it would be better if they lived in something like a small rural town where everyone knows everyone else and can easily talk to others or spend time together when needed 6 Downloaded by Yen Nguyen (nguyenyen.11@gmail.com) lOMoARcPSD|38837747 2.2 The virtual world blends into the real world Although new forms of communication have developed, such as texting and instant messaging, they cannot replace face-to-face communication It is this new method of communicating that has quietly eaten away at one of our most human personalities: empathy Technology can't take full responsibility for stripping us of our ability to empathize However, it's hard to understand anyone through just a few text messages and emotional icons instead of facial expressions, voices, and gestures We'll never know if our comments or messages really comfort the other person or even hurt them inadvertently In the past, a small community where our grandparents or parents lived was the only place we could have access to Now, the world is an infinite space in which we can communicate with people thousands of kilometers away from us We may feel excited about it, but sometimes this feeling can turn into fear when we are alone and see our friends' pictures full of radiant faces on social media These photos may make us think that everyone is having so much fun without us, and we will feel like being abandoned by our friends This is probably why we often have a "fake" feeling with online connections In this way, we can see that human emotions are confused between real life and virtual reality because as the virtual world has become an integral part of our daily lives, it has become more difficult to distinguish between fantasy and reality For that reason, Generation Z is the first generation to face a widespread mental health crisis According to the US Center for Disease Control, suicide is the second leading cause of death among young people in 2019 If you look broadly at developed countries, the suicide rate is also increasing gradually among young people Depression and anxiety are on the rise In Gen Z, problems such as depression, anxiety disorders and difficulties with social interaction were also found to be on the rise Generation Z was the first generation to put a lot of emphasis on the "virtual self": As social networks became popular social communication platforms; Gen Z gradually developed the so-called virtual self: self-expression in the virtual space As a result of Gen Z's use of social media, the generation has a different self-image than the one they present in real life This is confirmed by forms of self-image control such as selecting content and images posted on social networks, applying filters to 7 Downloaded by Yen Nguyen (nguyenyen.11@gmail.com) lOMoARcPSD|38837747 beautify or cover up imperfections, and being increasingly susceptible to the influence of social media reviews by others 2.3 A fish on a land Many young people experience difficulties in integrating into the school environment Children with artistic personalities, who love beauty and favor the "real world" over the academic one, are especially at risk of failing to adjust to school How can a fish swim on land? It's impossible to force a person who loves art and is not interested in academics to thrive in a formal environment consisting mainly of other such people While most parents are engrossed with work and cover the increasingly expensive cost of living, they have little time for their children Children raised in such circumstances can feel lonely even in their own families Social isolation has become a major problem for college students, and it is often most acute in their own homes A 2014 study found that nearly half of all college students felt lonely at least once a week College freshmen often feel particularly isolated from the adults in their lives—teachers, advisors, and parents They may feel they have little in common with anyone around them, even people they've known since infancy And university life often exacerbates this isolation by providing few opportunities for students to interact with others in casual settings outside the classroom; as a result, many find it difficult to develop close relationships with other students beyond the walls of their dorm room or apartment And, as many have noted, such differences in personality are largely genetically determined Therefore, it is not easy to talk about them Formerly, families were spiritual support systems—places where young people could go and get advice when they needed it Nowadays, however, families seem less able to provide this service Sometimes, one has just got to cry in private when loneliness has reached its peak—a level of loneliness that cannot be shared with anyone else, but that one can only solve on one's own As the poet Luo Bai remarked: "In the lives of modern humans, crying must be done in 'vibration mode' 2.4 The pressure on “need to be perfect" The technological age of Generation Z is overwhelming Society tells us repeatedly that as teens, they need to prepare for the future Prepare for college, prepare for 8 Downloaded by Yen Nguyen (nguyenyen.11@gmail.com) lOMoARcPSD|38837747 getting a job, prepare for a family, prepare for any possible emergency in life As a part of Generation Z, we all have this mentality of: “I want to be special and unique” just like everyone else We were told that we can be anything we want to be if we work hard The difficult part is that society has turned the term “you can be anything” to “You should do everything” The teenagers struggle with face dealing with technology and have an unforgiving learning curve when it comes to navigating technology There is a dark side to technology when mistakes are made Public shaming takes the mob mentality on social media and what is called cancel culture This idea of people dropping celebrities' status is stripped when massive amounts of people unfollow someone for doing something that is considered controversial or bad We cannot automatically filter out the harmful parts of technology unless we have enough life experience or advice to be wise about our choices that can have long-term consequences They must face catfishing, identity theft, stocking and cyberbullying from a very young age - when they don’t have enough experience or wise enough to deal with those Gen Z has been reared in a culture of social media, which has given rise to a crushing pressure to be the perfect team and be well-rounded teens They are groomed to make constant decisions from having so many options for college internships and majors in schoolwork Everything is being labeled as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that Gen Zers simply can't miss out on Through this pressure for rounded teens to be good at everything—intelligent, athletic, and leaders in their community—there is an overwhelming pressure to fill up their schedules with impressive achievements Gen Zers must compete for jobs with impressive achievements on their applications, not just smarts Today's youth are often characterized as a "technology-savvy" generation that has been exposed to an unprecedented amount of information and experiences at a very early age They often expect perfection from themselves, behaving more like adults than children Adults often put pressure on the parents of these children to explain why their child is making noise, why he or she isn't behaving the way adults think he or she should behave This results in parents trying too hard to make their child not turn into the black sheep of the family, just so they can meet society's expectations 9 Downloaded by Yen Nguyen (nguyenyen.11@gmail.com) lOMoARcPSD|38837747 For example, recently, Vietnamese parents tend to send their children to learn more gifted subjects, sports or learn foreign language certificates It's from the fact that social media is constantly putting information about kids who achieved a lot of outstanding achievements at a young age or constantly sharing and creating a standard of student profiles that must have items that have inadvertently created peer pressure to follow a pattern to become competitive and not be vulnerable This has been said a thousand and a million times by everyone, we are all good at different things But truly, have we ever truly done it in reality, when we - who is a part of society - keeps creating the standard for a perfect student, a perfect teenager and a perfect human? 2.5 Alone in the crowd A recent survey by the U.S Center for Life Survey found that 56% of Gen Z felt lonely at least once or twice a month during childhood By comparison, only 24% of gen Z's grandparents (those born between 1946 and 1964) felt lonely growing up Evidence indicates that small interactions and social connections are important in the process of creating a fulfilling life, and many Z genes miss those moments According to the report, only 38% of Gen Z Americans said they ate with their family daily during childhood In previous generations, family meals were the norm, the only time of day that connected other members Gen Z is the first generation where both parents' commute to work becomes the norm, which in turn leads to new priorities for parents in parenting and career balance Parents put more pressure on their children to achieve academic success than previous generations, and this has led to a sense of self- importance among members of Generation Z They see professional achievement and educational attainment as a measure of self-worth, but don't blame the social media or any aspect of some culture because these high expectations often come from within their own families first Generation Z learned at an early age that they should be the leader, not the follower They were taught that they should be an influencer instead of someone who is affected by others' opinions or ideas Modern society values pioneering and innovation—traits that are often applauded today—but it downplays the importance of working together and establishing harmony This can be seen even in the most basic part of identity: full names Today's parents look for fewer common names for their children in order to help them stand out from the crowd 10 Downloaded by Yen Nguyen (nguyenyen.11@gmail.com) lOMoARcPSD|38837747 II THE ROOTS AND CONSEQUENCES OF THE PROBLEM 1 The reasons for “The lonely fragile and stressed generation” 1.1 The external factors ● Studies have found that Generation Z is the loneliest generation The factors contributing to this are all around them: increased gun violence across the country including in schools where Gen Z students attend, sexual harassment reports coming from all around them and many of them that have dealt with harassment or abuse themselves, political discussions surrounding immigration and taxes that could have a direct impact on their futures, and other social situations that Gen Z has to deal with and observe all the time that are causing anxiety and depression They feel more stress about these issues than older generations do according to research They are also more likely to have direct mental and physical health problems because of these stressful situations ● Generation Z is the first generation to grow up entirely in an Internet-enabled world This is a phenomenon that shapes their outlook on life to a much greater degree than previous generations As adolescents, they are particularly susceptible to psychological syndromes such as depression and anxiety disorders While people of other ages tend to be lonely when they feel isolated from others, Generation Z individuals may feel lonely even when they're surrounded by many other people This can be attributed to their heavy reliance on social media platforms, which can cause them to become inundated with negative content and to feel disconnected from society at large As a result of the increase in technology, young people today are facing bullying on social media and with more complexity and stress ● Young people's tensions can also increase due to issues such as climate change, politics, immigration, and fears about the future in general Since then, mental illnesses have appeared more and more often; they are also tending to "rejuvenate." In addition, Gen Z is a generation that receives little sympathy when it comes to expressing anxiety since they were born into a period of stability and development; they are supposed not to feel "unsettled" when compared to other generations living in war or poverty 11 Downloaded by Yen Nguyen (nguyenyen.11@gmail.com) lOMoARcPSD|38837747 ● The pressure to succeed is greater for the 8x and 9x generations, due to their being born in better economic conditions, and receiving the best investment and care from their parents; thus, "there is no reason to lose." In particular, Asian parents often put a lot of pressure on their children—creating an anxiety foundation for a child Similarly, many studies suggest that social media is also the cause of increased anxiety levels in the younger generation Born in an era of explosion in technology and information, Gen Z is not only overwhelmed by mountains of information but also under pressure from friends around "Fear of missing out" (FOMO) is a common phenomenon among young people today The constant updating of information and pictures about other people's lives makes this generation often feel disappointed in themselves ● Due to uncertainty, pressure from financial insecurity and poor career prospects characterize Generation Z For example, young people have a fear of failure, or "quarter-life crisis," when there are too many options for their future and no certainty about which option is best In the United States, money and work are also on the laundry list of stressors for Generation Z: more than 81% of participants reported money as a source of significant stress; "work" came in second at 77% 1.2 The internal factors There’s a growing concern that young adults today are experiencing an epidemic of loneliness, social isolation, and disconnection A lot of blame is being placed on social media, or more recently the pandemic Delayed family formation is another likely factor—young adults are marrying later than they once did But what if Gen Z is lonelier today not simply because of how much time they spend on social media, or because they’re single What if young adults today are lonelier because of how they were raised? For example, Americans who belong to Generation Z (born between 1997 and 2012) are more likely than any previous generation to report feeling lonely during childhood More than half of Gen Zers (56 percent) say they felt lonely at least once or twice a month during their childhood—a rate much higher than any other generation Unfortunately, experiences such as these are not limited to childhood The type of family we grow up in can have lasting effects on our adult lives For example, 12 Downloaded by Yen Nguyen (nguyenyen.11@gmail.com) lOMoARcPSD|38837747 Americans who were lonely during their childhood are far more likely to report feeling lonely or isolated as adults: Two-thirds of Americans who felt lonely every day during childhood say that today they feel lonely or isolated all or most of the time; only one- quarter say they hardly ever or never feel this way In contrast, 70 percent of people who report they were never lonely growing up say they hardly ever or never feel lonely or isolated today But what explains the vast disparities in childhood loneliness between generations? Much of it is probably related to changes in family structure over the last few decades Generation Z were more likely than past generations to have grown up in single-parent homes According to a recent study from the Pew Research Center, nearly one-quarter of children in the United States live in single parent families, which is the highest rate of any country This pattern could be contributing to childhood loneliness According to recent results from the American National Family Life Survey, Americans raised in single-parent families are more likely than those grown in two-parent homes to report feeling frustrated as a child They're also more likely to skip out on childhood experiences like regular family meals, which have been linked to lower depression rates Only 37% of Americans grown in single-parent homes think they had regular meals with their parents as children, opposed to 69% among those raised in two-parent homes Moreover, the narrowing of U.S family size over the past several decades could be a factor Americans are less likely to have grown up in big families today than they were even before the COVID-19 pandemic destroyed discussions about the cost of raising a child and family structure People who grow up without siblings are more likely to have been lonely as children, according to a recent study They may also be less willing to seek out social connections because they don't feel that they need them Although it is impossible to change the course of history, research indicates that we can learn from our past and make positive changes for the future The great news is that we have a lot of information about how Americans form and maintain social bonds—for example, college attendance has been related to higher levels of social integration according to research, whereas participation in religious communities can 13 Downloaded by Yen Nguyen (nguyenyen.11@gmail.com) lOMoARcPSD|38837747 also be beneficial Even going to a third place on a regular basis (such as a café, library, or park) encourages sociability and community spirit Because there is no exact reason for the increasing rates of anxiety and depression in American society, there are still no simple solutions Whatever interventions we try, we must keep in mind that youngsters did not become lonely after they turned 18 Many people's social lives are still influenced and shaped by their experiences as a child 1.3 The consequences of this problem Loneliness can result in the following signs and symptoms: ● Alcohol and drug misuse ● Altered brain function ● Antisocial behavior ● Cardiovascular disease and stroke ● Decreased memory and learning ● Depression and suicide ● Anhedonia (unable to be happy) ● Lethargy (decreased energy) ● Difficulty concentrating ● Difficulty falling asleep or interrupted sleep ● Decreased confidence ● Feeling hopeless ● Feeling worthless ● Feeling anxious ● Chronic body aches and pains ● Feeling tired ● Lack of motivation ● Difficulty getting off the bed or couch ● Increased consumption of alcohol ● Misusing recreational drugs ● Spending an excessive amount of time watching television ● Having the urge to spend excessively 14 Downloaded by Yen Nguyen (nguyenyen.11@gmail.com) lOMoARcPSD|38837747 ● Craving for physical warmth, such as hot drinks, baths, or blankets The consequences of loneliness: ● Physically Loneliness is associated with an increased incidence of physical disease High stress, inflammation, and a compromised immune system all increase the risk of developing coronary heart disease and autoimmune conditions It has the potential to weaken the immune system Long-term "fight-or-flight" pressure signaling occurs, which has a negative effect on immune activation Simply put, lonely people have lower immunity and higher inflammation than those who are not It may also increase susceptibility to the symptoms of a cold or the flu According to a 2017 study, people who are lonely are more likely to develop cold symptoms Not that everyone got sick, but those who did were nearly three times as likely to have more serious symptoms if they reported feeling lonely Furthermore, it has the potential to cause body composition gains or losses People gaining weight in order to try to relieve their feelings of inadequacy Loneliness has been related to a 30percent of overall rise in cardiovascular disease risk, similar to smoking It has also been linked to an increased risk of heart disease and diabetes Two important studies by Holt-Lunstad provided the overall impact of loneliness as a risk variable for early death (death that occurs before the average age of death in a certain population) The first researchers focused on how social interactions and other social sectors, such as social media network size and perceived social support, affect mortality risk Loneliness is linked to an increased risk of mortality that is significant compared to having smoked 15 tobacco products a day or to being a drug addict, and it outweighs the potential health risks linked to obesity ● Mentally: According to Dr Nancy Donovan, loneliness can contribute to depression and may be a cause of depression Evidence of this was found in a 2006 study that looked at the analysis of two population-based studies of middle-aged to older people Both studies reported higher levels of loneliness were related to symptoms of anxiety and depression, and that this link remained stable over time 15 Downloaded by Yen Nguyen (nguyenyen.11@gmail.com) lOMoARcPSD|38837747 Loneliness reduces the quality of sleep Chronic loneliness can cause sleep disturbances and/or difficulty falling asleep Sleep deprivation can impair performance During the day, this causes sleep disturbances and exhaustion Loneliness can have a negative impact on one's eating habits A 2012 study on the link between eating problems and loneliness discovered that many aspects of loneliness are linked to a variety of eating disorders, including anorexia, bulimia, and eating problems It may lead to more harmful behaviors such as smoking, obesity, lack of activity, alcoholism, and lack of sleep People who use drugs to deal with anxiety and depression, pressure, avoid confronting the real world of their circumstance and thoughts and emotions, denying the truth, feelings of inadequacy, and fear They may feel stuck and powerless to change their circumstances, and they frequently inflict harm on those around them because of their own pain and anger ● Social life: Loneliness might make it harder to interact with others and have a negative perception of their social interactions and respond in a negative way ● Here, we delve deeper into the subject and research to see what we can learn about the relationship between social connections and health In a simply put, here's how I understand the evidence: Individuals who experience feelings of isolation seem to be more likely to get sick later in life, according to a wealth of data Isolation can be placed off subconscious surveillance for sources of stress, creating cognitive distortions, lowering sleep, and negatively impacting hormones, according to a reliable hypothesis and discussion of biological functions There is almost certainly a logical link, however there is no trustable scientific evidence that allows us to estimate the frequency of the causal effect of loneliness on key health metrics like life expectancy ● We shouldn't dismiss the available evidence just because we can't pinpoint exactly the magnitude of the impact of loneliness on health However, it does indicate that more study is necessary III THE CONCLUSION Young people being lonely is not a problem of any country, but it is a problem of an entire young generation of the world when we are living in a time of a flat world 16 Downloaded by Yen Nguyen (nguyenyen.11@gmail.com) lOMoARcPSD|38837747 However, this issue in Vietnam has not been paid attention and specific research even though young people in Vietnam now face the same life challenges as young people in other countries Through this research paper, we found that Vietnam does not have any specific data or research, mainly using information and research sources of other countries This raises an alarm about the lack of concern for the psychological and emotional needs of a generation facing the biggest changes ever One way to address loneliness in young people is by helping them think positively about relationships and learn how to influence others through their feelings and behaviors Parents, teachers, and other adults can play a role in educating children and teens about the importance of social connections Strategies for dealing with loneliness may include: advising youth to get rid of unhelpful thoughts or negative views about others, helping them identify their strengths and use them to create strong, meaningful relationships, and giving young people educational programs that lift their morale and offer a variety of methods for building trust among peers; these discussions can be integrated into health education classes Digital tools will also be developed to overcome loneliness by allowing young people to build social skills through safe spaces on the Internet in which they can practice communicating with others The real problem with the "Loneliness Epidemic" or the "loneliest generation" is not the consequences it can have on the younger generation—what we fear most is the attitude of young people when someone calls their problem a name Young people know they are part of a lonely generation, be it themselves or those around them, but they accept that, considering loneliness to be the normal thing of life despite the possible consequences and many without the need for more friends This attitude is detrimental because while they are aware that loneliness can cause severe problems in their lives like mental illness or suicide, they do nothing to overcome it 17 Downloaded by Yen Nguyen (nguyenyen.11@gmail.com) lOMoARcPSD|38837747 REFERENCES 1 Social work today “Social Consequences of Loneliness.” 2 Sarah Schmalbruch (2018) “10 ways loneliness can affect your health — physically and mentally.” 3 Annie E Casey (2021) “Generation Z and Mental Health.” 4 Jacob Sweet Harvard Magazine (2021) “The Loneliness Pandemic.” 5 Huang, C (2010) Internet use and psychological well-being: A meta-analysis Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking 6 Kraut, R., Patterson, M., Lundmark, V., Kiesler, S., Mukhopadhyay, T., & Scherlis, W (1998) Internet paradox: A social technology that reduces social involvement and psychological wellbeing? American Psychologist 7 Digital natives’ coping with loneliness: Facebook or face-to-face? Elodie Gentina, Rui Chen 8 Loneliness Index National Report Complication - Cigna, 2018 9 Teens have less face time with their friends – and are lonelier than ever - Jean Twenge, Professor of Psychology, San Diego State University, 2019 10 Teens around the world are lonelier than a decade ago The reason may be smartphones - Tara Bahrampour, The Washington Post, 2021 11 Worldwide increases in adolescent loneliness - Jean M.Twenge, Jonathan Haidt, Andrew B.Blake, Cooper McAllister, Hannah Lemon, Astrid Le Royd 12 Gen Z is the loneliest generation - and it's their parent’s fault, Business Insider, 2022 13 The Childhood Loneliness of Generation Z - American Survey Center, 2022 18 Downloaded by Yen Nguyen (nguyenyen.11@gmail.com) lOMoARcPSD|38837747 14 U.S has world’s highest rate of children living in single-parent households - Stephanie Kramer, Pew Research Center, 2019 15 Emerging Trends and Enduring Patterns in American Family Life - Daniel A Cox, American Survey Center, 2022 16 Correlations Between Family Meals and Psychosocial Well-being Among Adolescents - Marla E Eisenberg; Rachel E Olson; Dianne Neumark-Sztainer 17 Loneliness and Life Satisfaction in Adolescents with Divorced and Non- Divorced Parents 18 The rise of the only child: How America is coming around to the idea of ‘just one’ - Caitlin Gibson 19 The College Connection: The Education Divide in American Social and Community Life - Daniel A Cox 20 What Is Generation Z (Gen Z)? - Investopedia 21 Generation Z - Bamboo HR 22 Loneliness In the Workplace - Cigna, 2020 19 Downloaded by Yen Nguyen (nguyenyen.11@gmail.com)