Generation Disaster
Generation Disaster: Coming of Age Post-9/11 is an in-depth examination of the multiple stressors that shaped the developmental environment for today’s emerging adults in their youth and as they now take on adult responsibilities in an unprecedentedly complex world. Those stressors include all of the societal changes that occurred in the United States after the attacks of September 11, 2001, as well as other threats like the increase in school shootings and other human-caused disasters, worsening natural disasters and concerns about the future due to climate change, and the global pandemic. The omnipresence of social media amplifies these issues and heightens political divisiveness, while the difficult job market, growing wealth gap between rich and poor, and burden of student debt make many emerging adults doubt they’ll ever find a satisfying career, be able to start a family, or buy a home. As a result, many are stressed out and pessimistic about their futures, yet others are flourishing despite all of the challenges they face. Generation Disaster provides a detailed look into the many forces that are shaping this cohort of emerging adults, drawing on quantitative and qualitative research and including extensive quotations that allow its members to speak for themselves to counter the negative stereotypes older people often perpetuate about them.