BOULDER, Colo. — Gloo and Barna Group have released the latest research from the State of the Church series, which explores Gen Z mental health trends along with insights for ministry leaders, parents and employers to better relate to young adults.

This month’s release outlines key trends among Gen Z, including rising anxiety, loneliness, self-doubt and an increased desire for well-being and authentic connection, despite living in a digitally-connected culture.

Key highlights:

1. Connection matters: Most Gen Z (85%) admit their generation spends too much time online, and over half (54%) strongly agree that in-person relationships are more valuable than digital ones.

2. Personal flourishing goals: Gen Z’s priorities are clear: Being happy tops the list (65%), followed by financial stability (53%) and having good mental and emotional health (49%).

3. On loneliness: Nearly one in three (28%) reports always feeling lonely — a stark contrast to older generations, where only 4% of Elders experience persistent loneliness. Similarly, one in four Gen Z (26%) consistently feels isolated, compared to just 5% of Elders.

4. An Anxious Generation: Two in five Gen Z (39%) say they frequently feel anxiety about important decisions, with an equal number reporting feelings of uncertainty about the future.

5. Trauma: Nearly one in three Gen Z (31%) reports personally experiencing a traumatic event, and female Gen Z are significantly more likely to have history with trauma than male Gen Z (34% vs. 28%).

“Mental wellness is an integral part of flourishing,” said Brad Hill, chief solutions officer at Gloo. “Gen Z is looking beyond simple answers and toward people who see them, understand their struggles, and walk with them. As church leaders, mentors and parents, we have the opportunity to be that presence.”

The release comes at a timely season for leaders and parents as they help the young adults in their lives transition to new life stages, including entry to high school, college and adulthood. 

“Young people are navigating increasing mental health challenges, and our research shows that a caring, faith-filled community can be a powerful source of stability and strength,” said David Kinnaman, CEO of Barna. “This is good news for churches: The Christian faith offers more than answers — it offers peace, purpose and a place to belong that so many young people are looking for.”

In addition to research, the State of the Church initiative provides insights through its virtual event series. Leaders can also assess the state of their own church with free church health tools.

Barna and Gloo will continue to release monthly research insights throughout 2025. This month’s full findings are available exclusively on Barna Access Plus, Barna’s comprehensive research platform. To learn more or access tools for assessing local church health, visit stateofthechurch.com. 

About the Research

The data in this release is derived from Gen Z Volume 3, Faith & AI, and a 2024 summer omnipoll conducted by Barna. 

Originally published on RNS, May 14, 2025

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Gloo is the technology platform for the faith ecosystem. Gloo is shaping technology as a force for good, so that people can flourish and communities can thrive. With more than 100,000 leaders on the platform, Gloo serves those who serve by bringing together a comprehensive set of solutions including values-aligned AI, distribution channels, and ministry engagement tools that amplify impact. 

Barna Group is a leading research organization focused on the intersection of faith and culture. Since 1984, Barna has conducted more than two million interviews over the course of thousands of studies and has become a go-to source for insights about religion, leadership, vocation and generations. Barna is an independent, privately-held, nonpartisan organization based in Dallas–Fort Worth, Texas.