Aussie Boomers say they are the nation's happiest generation – are they correct, or simply out of touch

Wishful thinking, or plain ol' delusion?

A cross-generational survey has revealed exactly how Australian Boomers perceive their generation’s ability to manage and express mental health struggles, but their take on matters has left us with even more questions.

While it’s true that every generation battles its own set of problems, influenced by the social, political, and economic happenings of their time, the dire state of affairs in the world right now has both Gen Z and millennials feeling as though the walls are closing in. 

Baby Boomers, AKA Aussies born after World War 2, between the years of 1946 and 1964, make up the largest population group in the nation, but given they were named in honour of the post-war baby boom, their flourishing numbers today are hardly surprising. 

According to the findings of a report conducted by Medibank and News Australia’s The Growth Distillery, Australians of all ages are struggling with the expression and management of their mental health.

With financial stress, workplace pressures and anxiety identified as the top stressors for Australians today, the survey delves into the challenges we face when initiating discussions about mental health, revealing some confronting differences between younger and older generations. 

Only according to the Boomers, their ability to persevere through life’s challenges and cope with stress far outperforms those of other generations. 

There are some confronting differences between younger and older generations. Image: Pexels

Overall, the majority of Aussies surveyed expressed a belief that young Australians today are faced with unprecedented hardship, with 69 per cent of Australians agreeing that navigating life today involves a wider and more intense set of challenges than those faced by earlier generations.

At the same time, however, this perceived empathy towards young Aussies is underpinned by the widely held notion that society is becoming less resilient when it comes to handling adversity and stress, with 77 per cent of Boomers holding this belief. 

With so much negative stigma attached to mental health, it’s hardly surprising that 74 per cent of Baby Boomers perceive their generation’s collective mental health and wellbeing as significantly better than others’. 

74 per cent of Baby Boomers perceive their generation’s collective mental health as better than others'. Image: iStock

The no-fuss coping mechanisms of Boomers 

A generation defined by their ability to just ‘get on with it’, it’s no surprise that Baby Boomers are by far the least receptive age demographic when it comes to talking about their feelings.

In fact, 28 per cent of Boomers report not feeling a need to talk to anyone about their mental wellbeing, with one in five revealing they’ve never even had a conversation with their partner about mental health. 

But while chatting about their worries with friends and family may not be their most popular coping mechanism, Boomers reported the highest engagement in physical activities such as walking, driving and exercising to cope with stress and grief. 

And while 24 per cent of Gen Z report opting for a good ol’ fashioned session of bed rotting when they’re feeling especially down, only 7 per cent of Boomers report withdrawing and staying in bed when coping with mental health issues. 

Only 7 per cent of Boomers report turning to 'bedrotting' to cope with stress. Image: Pexels

What do Boomers have to worry about?

According to the data, the biggest causes of stress and anxiety for Boomers are loss and health declines, as the ageing generation navigates their later years. But with so many Boomers experiencing health concerns and the loss of loved ones, they also report feeling much more comfortable talking about grief and loss than members of Gen Z (68 per cent vs. 45 per cent).

As their health begins to decline naturally, Boomers are also experiencing firsthand the financial strain physical ailments can have on their lives, a burden only intensified by the fact that many members of the Baby Boomer generation have left the workforce for retirement. 

While the majority of Boomers express a disdain for speaking about their mental health struggles with others (especially younger generations), the data reveals they’re especially apprehensive about broaching topics such as work-related stress and feeling uncertain or scared about the future.

With health concerns being the leading cause of stress amongst Boomers, it’s no surprise that they place a high emphasis on the health of those closest to them, travel and holidays, while younger generations tend to value things such as personal achievements, work or study, and life transitions like moving or getting married.

Boomers place a high emphasis on the health of those closest to them, travel and holidays. Image: Pexels

So, are Boomers out of touch?

The accusation that Baby Boomers are ‘greedy’ and out of touch with the economic hardships of younger Australians is not new, gaining more traction in recent years as the nation’s collective purse strings tighten, forcing the price of groceries, petrol and homes to rise exponentially.   

With the median house price in the 1960s just over double the average income at the time, it was arguably easier for Boomers to get their foot in the door of the housing market. Today, two full-time incomes and years of saving will barely get you a two-bedroom rental in Sydney. 

Boomers grew up in the midst of economic prosperity and raging social change, shaping their perspectives and values undoubtedly. 

But while it’s convenient to imagine all Baby Boomers sitting in their lavish 4-bedroom homes, chuckling to themselves as they impose a surprise rent increase on the tenants of their several investment properties, not every Aussie assigned to this age demographic is living a life devoid of stress.

The truth is, we’re all experiencing difficult things, from juggling the pressure to provide for our families to the confronting reality of ageing out of the workforce, and comparing our experiences with those of our predecessors or successors is like comparing apples and oranges. 

If the findings of this cross-generational survey tell us anything, it’s that there is an overwhelming need for better dialogue between the different generations. 

With a reluctance to burden others found to be a universal barrier stopping Aussies of all generations from opening up, there’s never been a more important time to emphasise the importance of approaching these conversations with empathy and understanding. 

Originally published as Aussie Boomers say they are the nation's happiest generation – are they correct, or simply out of touch