Lonelier Than Ever, Gen Z Isn’t Turning to Religious Mentors | RealClearReligion

At the onset of the report, Springtide confirms that Gen Z is experiencing record levels of loneliness – the “loneliest generation,” as others have called it. Nearly 40% told Springtide they feel, at least sometimes, they have no one to talk to and that no one really knows them well. The study’s major finding, however, is that the loneliness and purposelessness young people experience can be mitigated greatly by relationships with trusted adult mentors.

Of those who said they have no adult mentors, 24% feel their life never has meaning or purpose. However, for those with even just one adult mentor, this number dropped to 6%. The same correlation held true for loneliness: 58% of those with no adult mentors reported having no one to talk to at least sometimes, but this number dropped as respondents reported one mentor (48%), two to four mentors (37%) and five or more mentors (24%) in their lives. “The correlation is undeniable,” the report asserts. The best kind of mentor relationships, Springtide discovered, are those that model “relational authority,” combining the sharing of wisdom and expertise with the practices of listening, integrity, transparency, and care.

Source: Lonelier Than Ever, Gen Z Isn’t Turning to Religious Mentors | RealClearReligion