Exploring the Relationship Between Economic Hardship and Suicidal Ideation Among Gen Z and Millennials: A Comparative Study
Keywords:
Economic hardship, Suicidal Ideation, Gen-Z, MillennialsAbstract
This study aims to explore the relationship between economic hardship and suicidal ideation among Generation Z (Gen Z) and Millennials in southwestern Nigeria. Specifically, it assesses the prevalence of economic hardship and suicidal ideation in both cohorts, compares their mental health outcomes related to economic hardship, and evaluates the effectiveness of psychoeducation as an intervention. The study employed a two-phase research design. In the first phase, a descriptive design was used to assess economic hardship and suicidal ideation among participants. The second phase involved a quasi-experimental design to evaluate the impact of psychoeducation on participants identified with moderate to severe suicidal ideation. A multi-stage sampling procedure was applied, beginning with a random selection of three southwestern states, followed by a purposive selection of federal, state, and private universities to capture diverse participant backgrounds. A sample of 401 undergraduate and postgraduate students, aged 12-43, was surveyed. The Economic Hardship Scale (EHS) and Suicidal Ideation Attributes Scale (SIAS) were used for data collection. Descriptive statistics revealed high economic hardship in both cohorts, with Gen Z showing a higher prevalence of severe suicidal ideation than Millennials. Specifically, 50.25% of Gen-z had mild suicidal ideation compared to 23.88% with moderate and 25.87% with severe. In contrast, 52.50% of millennials had mild suicidal ideation with 45% having moderate and 2.5% having severe. Correlation analysis indicated a strong positive relationship between economic hardship and suicidal ideation with Gen-z (r=.82) having a high correlational coefficient compared to millennial with (r=.75). Likewise, there was also a significant generational difference between gen-z and millennials in relation to economic hardship (t(2,399)=2.12; p <.05) and suicidal ideation (t(2,399)=1.02; p <.05). Post-intervention results showed significant improvements in suicidal ideation and perceived economic hardship among participants in the psychoeducation groups, particularly among Millennials, who demonstrated more substantial shifts toward milder ideation levels. This study concluded that economic hardship is significantly associated with suicidal ideation, with Gen Z showing heightened vulnerability compared to Millennials. Psychoeducation proved effective in reducing severe suicidal ideation and, indirectly, in mitigating perceptions of economic hardship. These findings highlight the need for generationally tailored mental health interventions addressing economic stress.
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