Trendy wellness gimmicks and technologies hold little interest for members of Generation X, who prefer scientifically backed evidence of the benefits of wellness programs and offerings, according to a new report from the Mather Institute.
The Year 2 report in a five-year look at “The Gen Xperience” examines the health and wellness of Gen X, focusing on wellness trends, wellness technology and workplace wellness. The Mather Institute launched the initiative in 2023 to examine key lifestyle trends, attitudes and interest of the generation, producing a Year 1 report last year.
Born between 1965 and 1980, members of Gen X grew up amid an increase in women in the workplace, the rise of two-income families, and technologic advancements, including personal computers and cable television, Mather noted.
In a survey of 2,520 Gen Xers and 2,500 baby boomers (born 1946 to 1964), the Mather Institute reported that Gen X shows limited interest in exploring the latest wellness trends, with 80% of members seeking a higher standard when considering new programs and offerings.
Having grown up during the transition from analog to digital technology, Gen X overall has embraced health and wellness technology — two-thirds of respondents said they have adopted wellness technologies to monitor their health. Only half, however, said that smart home technology was important for wellness, and 31% said they don’t use any wellness technologies to track or monitor their health.
Among the reasons Gen X participants gave for not using wellness technology, 42% said they just weren’t interested, 39% cited cost and 30% said they had data privacy concerns.
Technology integration looks like more of a progression from the baby boomers, with Gen X using technology even more so than members of the preceding generation, according to Jenny Smith, PhD, Mather Institute assistant vice president and director. And Gen X members are viewing wellness in a more holistic way rather than just focusing on physical health, Smith told McKnights Senior Living.
Mather Institute Senior Vice President Catherine O’Brien, PhD, MPH, added that although members of Gen X aren’t expressing much interest in the newest, trendiest wellness technologies, they still are very interested in wellness and longevity. In particular, she said, they know that healthful behaviors and engaging in wellness activities are important.
O’Brien told McKnight’s Senior Living that the senior living industry should continue to explore wellness programs and other offerings for Gen X, but those offerings should be paired with information that supports the credibility of those programs. Although more tech-savvy than baby boomers, a good portion of Gen X grew up without much technology and may prefer low- or no-tech options, a reality that emphasizes the need for senior living operators to provide a variety of offerings, O’Brien said.
Gen X is stressed out, according to the report; 69% of responding Gen X members rated their stress over the past three months as moderate to extreme, with money / finances as the greatest source of stress.
Just 45% of Gen X participants reported having very good or excellent mental health, compared with 57% of baby boomers. And 48% of Gen X respondents reported having a diagnosis of a chronic illness.
Looking forward, the data suggest that members of Gen X may spend more years in late life in poor health compared with baby boomers, according to the report. In addition, the National Cancer Institute estimates that cancer rates will be higher in Gen X than in baby boomers.
Despite expressing a desire to improve fitness and health, on average, Gen X study participants said they tended to complete only 5.7 of 13 healthy behaviors often or routinely. More than half of the survey’s Gen X respondents reported engaging in basic healthy behaviors, such as exercising (55%), eating healthy (61%), having a positive outlook (65%), managing stress (53%) and getting enough sleep (52%).
Many said they were pressed for time, balancing careers and family life and not prioritizing their own health and well-being, which could contribute to their limited interest in wellness trends, the report authors said.
Smith said she was surprised to see that only 15% of respondents reported access to stress management and resilience programs in their workplaces.
To help their Gen X employees stay healthy and on the job, Smith said, employers should look for opportunities to establish programs in the workplace to support basic healthy behaviors, such as healthy meal options, on-site fitness centers, gym membership discounts and walking meetings.
To help reduce stress among the generation, Smith further recommended that employers support professional–personal life balance, something 59% of Gen X respondents said was important. Providing resources to reduce or offset child-related and education expenses, or providing on-site childcare, were among the report’s recommendations, along with tuition reimbursement and scholarships, flexible schedules, health savings accounts and stress management training.
Feelings about opportunities for remote or hybrid work were mixed among poll-takers, with 42% of Gen X respondents saying having the opportunities affected their wellness a great deal.
The Year 1 report identified the three highest priority areas in life for Gen X: family, career and health. The Year 3 report will focus on workplace experiences, comparing four generations — Gen X, baby boomers, millennials and Gen Z. Future surveys will address purpose and meaning in life, as well as plans for the future.
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