Psychiatrist Compares How Each Generation Defines Happiness

Newsweek

4 days ago

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A psychiatrist's viral Instagram video is sparking a cross-generational conversation on happiness, by blending humor, research, and sharp cultural commentary to explore how boomers, Gen Xers, millennials and Gen Zers define fulfillment—and why their outlooks differ so starkly.
Dr. Judith Joseph, a board-certified psychiatrist, researcher and bestselling author of High Functioning, posted the video on March 24. It has since garnered almost 90,000 likes. In it, New York-based Joseph walks a hallway in character—first as a boomer, then Gen Xer, a millennial, and finally Gen Zer—each embodying a different philosophy of happiness shaped by historical, economic and psychological forces.
Known for blending mental-health education with accessible social-media trends, Joseph uses costume changes in her clip to portray how the different generations navigate happiness. Her reflections are based on her clinical practice and research.
"Older generations tend to repress emotions and have a survival-mode way of approaching life based on their experience with limited resources or having their parents surviving war and economic depressions," Joseph (@drjudithjoseph) told Newsweek. "They tend to be focused on making sure that they have the basics in order to survive rather than thinking about their mental health and overall well-being.
"Gen Z, on the other hand, grew up having constant access to information, constant comparisons of their own happiness to others because of social media; and they have a collective approach to happiness," Joseph said.
How the Generations Approach Happiness
Viewers were able to see Joseph walk through a hallway dressed in stereotypical outfits symbolizing each generation, channeling their mindsets and attitudes toward fulfillment.
For boomers, she said happiness is rooted in tangible security: owning a home, having food, and being "gainfully employed." Gen X, by contrast, believes in working hard now in hopes of retiring comfortably later.
Millennials, burdened by student loans and economic instability, often feel happiness is unaffordable. Gen Z, raised amid global uncertainty and with access to social media, are determined to pursue joy now—emphasizing that tomorrow is not promised.
In the caption accompanying her post, Joseph elaborates on how "collective traumas, experiences and educational opportunities" shape each generation's mindset.
Boomers, Joseph wrote, inherited a "survival mode mentality" from parents who lived through war and economic upheaval, often suppressing emotions in favor of grit and resilience.
"Many older boomers did not have access to education about psychology, so they did not acknowledge the emotional well-being," she added.
For Gen X, Joseph described a generation immersed in individualism, materialism, capitalism and consumerism.
"They were praised for being 'doers' and, when situations were hard, they took a 'can-do' approach and focused on self-improvement strategies," she said.
Gen Xers delayed gratification, equating material success with personal worth.
Millennials, who matured in the digital age, were the first to access global information online.
"They are more intentional about investing in their mental health," Joseph added. "They seek a life without burnout and would rather be happy internally than from having a façade of happiness."
Struggling with debt and workplace pressures, millennials introduced the term "burnout" into mainstream discourse.
Dr. Judith Joseph dresses up as a member of the millennial generation (L) and Generation Z (R) in an Instagram video.
Dr. Judith Joseph dresses up as a member of the millennial generation (L) and Generation Z (R) in an Instagram video.
@drjudithjoseph
Gen Z, the most-connected generation yet, approach happiness as a collective and immediate pursuit.
"They are rigid with boundaries and openly express their preferences unapologetically," Joseph said. "They are fed up with the system that selects a small group for financial superiority and are not afraid to leave a system that seems skewed for the wealthy."
Joseph's insight into the different generations extends beyond the viral clip. She frequently teaches physicians how to appropriately craft mental-health messaging for traditional and social media. Her research also draws on sources like Pew and McKinsey.
How This Impacts the Workplace
"Older generations did not traditionally talk openly about mental health and well-being as it was not socially acceptable to do so," Joseph said.
Dr. Judith Joseph poses for a headshot.
Dr. Judith Joseph poses for a headshot.
@drjudithjoseph
For Gen X, mental health remained a peripheral topic, Joseph added, as they lacked digital access and often encountered societal stigmas.
Today, these generational contrasts play out in workplaces and households alike.
"People are living longer, and there are multigenerational households due to cost of living being high," Joseph said. "Also, workplaces have multigenerational experiences since we have all generations in the workplace now."
The video, while humorous, aims to validate these different lived experiences and offer understanding across age lines.
"People are curious about the mindsets of the other generations they see at home and at work," Joseph said. "And these videos are designed to be validating, while providing an explanation as to why people think so differently based on their generational experiences."
Joseph continues to work on her lab that is dedicated to understanding the science of happiness. It is the first to study conditions like high-functioning anxiety and depression, and her book focuses on how people can reclaim a sense of joy in their lives.