Resilient Engagement: Emotions, Empathy, and Civic Participation in Gen Z

This report seeks to deepen our understanding of how young Americans view themselves in the context of their country and this moment. We found that people of all ages are less trusting of others than before, with Gen Z showing particularly low levels of trust. Additionally, Zoomers hold relatively strong zero-sum beliefs, viewing success as a limited resource. Despite reporting high levels of distress in response to others' struggles, Gen Z demonstrates a strong commitment to civic engagement. They are also less convinced than older generations that democracy is the best way to govern but still retain some faith in the system.

Key Findings:

• Gen Z Is Mistrustful of Other People. Americans of all ages are less trusting of other people than ever before, though Gen Z shows particularly low levels of trust compared to most older generations.
• Gen Z Holds Stronger Zero-Sum Beliefs Than Older Generations. Gen Z is more likely than all older generations to believe that one individual or group’s success comes at the expense of others, which predicts their positions on political issues and self-reported likelihood of voting in 2024.
• Gen Z Reports Higher Levels of Distress in Response to Others' Misfortunes. Gen Z reports higher levels of distress in response to others’ struggles than do most older generations, but feelings of distress are associated with higher levels of civic engagement for young Americans.

• Gen Z Is Less Convinced That Democracy Is the Best Way to Govern. Gen Z is less likely than most older generations to say that democracy is the best form of government to address America’s long term challenges. They are also more open to considering alternative forms of government. Despite their doubts, the majority of Gen Z retains faith in American democracy.