Members of Gen Z report higher stress levels because of COVID-19 than boomers or millennials, a report from Socialsuite finds.

Based on data from more than four hundred organizations around the world, the Covid-19 Social Impact Report (23 pages, PDF) found that, on a scale of zero to ten, two-thirds of all respondents indicated a stress level of at least seven, with members of Gen Z most likely to rate their stress that high, followed by those age 55 to 64, while respondents age 35 to 54 were less likely to rate their stress at seven or above. Common stressors mentioned by respondents include uncertainty about when lockdowns will end, financial strain as a result of unemployment or difficulties in finding a new job, and the effects of the pandemic on the most vulnerable.

According to the report, COVID-related stress is most often associated with a fear of getting sick or dying, with 52 percent of respondents saying they were worried about being infected by the virus and 32 percent believing they and/or members of their family would not recover if they were to become infected; employment and income, with 28 percent of respondents indicating they are unable to provide for their families as a result of the virus and 37 percent feeling their job is at risk; and social distancing concerns, with 55 percent of respondents saying social distancing has had a negative effect on their community and 36 percent saying they do not feel safe leaving their home.

The survey also found that nearly 90 percent of respondents indicated they have access to accurate facts and information about when to get tested for COVID-19, with the preferred source of information being government website or communications (24 percent), followed by online news sites (20 percent).

"A rapidly evolving global crisis like the COVID-19 pandemic demands a quick response to enable organizations to effectively navigate the many challenges it presents," said Socialsuite co-founder and author of the report Clara Ong. "Drawing on our existing software, which is already being utilized by many organizations globally to monitor impact, we could begin collecting and analyzing data almost immediately."