If stress levels on campus seem high, it may be a result of more than midterms. The American Psychological Association recently named the millennial generation the most stressed demographic in the country.

While millennials, ages 18-33, reported the same stress levels as generation X-ers, ages 34-47, millenials found higher levels of stress acceptable. The study also found millennials are the age group most likely to stay awake at night due to stress during the past month or experienced an increase in stress in the past year.

Courtney Banks, a master’s student in television, radio and film, has seen her personal stress levels increase as graduation nears.

“You’re worried about school, you’re worried about how you’re going to pay for school,” she said. “You know in six months you’re going to get a letter from Sally Mae asking for their money back, and you don’t know how you’re going to pay for that.”

Millennials in the APA’s survey named work, money and job stability as the greatest causes of their stress.

Millennials themselves admit the negative health consequences of their stressful lifestyles. According to the APA, only 27 percent of millennials claim to eat healthy, and only 29 percent believe they’re getting enough sleep.

Randall Jorgensen, a professor of psychology at Syracuse University, pointed out that stress can affect almost every aspect of life.

“You have biological manifestations of stress, you have affective manifestations of stress, you have interpersonal manifestations of stress and you have mental or cognitive manifestations of stress,” he said.

Stephanie Hussey, a sophomore exercise science major and member of the women’s field hockey team, has noticed the emotional consequences of stress in her life.

“Emotionally, I completely shut down. I stop reaching out to my parents,” she said. “I stop talking about my problems.”

There are theories abound as to why millennials’ stress levels have risen above those of their parents and grandparents.

“It’s probably got to do with expectations,” said freshman Mike Duplessis, who pinned millennials’ stress on pressure to match their parents’ success in worse economic conditions.

Jorgensen, the psychology professor, agreed and said that unlike millennials, prior generations had a “social contract” that promised upward mobility.

“There was always this sense that we would do at least as well as our parents, and there was a sense that education would make a difference and that we could get educated for a reasonable price,” he said.

But millennials now face uncertain futures. Although this generation grew up in a relatively stable time, wars in the Middle East, poor job prospects and an “incompetent government” create a sense of uncertainty not unlike “walking on thin ice” as they get older, Jorgensen said.

Amid these stressors, many millennials are struggling. The APA found only 29 percent of millennials believe they’re doing a good job of managing their stress, which is less than in any other generation.

Fifteen percent of millennials turn to alcohol when stressed, according to the APA.

The study found 51 percent of millennials relax through exercise, but even more turn to music, the favorite stress reliever for the demographic.

Jorgensen recommended using stress as a source of information for personal growth.

“Stress is a part of life,” he said. “The idea is to learn how to coexist with your stress.”

Published on February 27, 2013 at 11:11 pm

Contact Maggie: mmcregan@syr.edu