Study says Generation X is balanced and happy

[seabeyond]

"We hope that this series of reports will serve to correct some of the misunderstandings and misstatements about Generation X that have appeared in the media," The Longitudinal Study of American Youth says on its website. "Some commentators have characterized Generation X as being less successful than their parents and perhaps less ambitious than their parent's generation."

Myth #1: Gen Xers are slackers.

Reality: Generation X devotes more hours to work than average and pursues continuing education.

Myth #2: Generation X is hopelessly single and pessimistic about marriage.

Reality: A higher percentage of Gen Xers stay married than Boomers, and most want to be married.

Myth #3: Generation Xers are disengaged, existential isolationists.

Reality: Gen X is social.

Myth #4: As former latch-key kids, Gen Xers are wimpy, neglectful parents.

Reality: About 84% of Gen X parents expect their children to earn at least a baccalaureate, and 39% expect their child to earn a graduate or professional degree.

Myth #5: Generation X is depressed.

Reality: Generation X is actually pretty happy.

http://www.cnn.com/2011/10/26/living/gen-x-satisfied/in...

[TBF]

1. If there are 84 million folks age 30-50 I don't know that 4,000 in a study is representative -

but I would agree to being active, balanced, and successful.

[pnwmom]

2. Could be. It all depends on how they selected the 4,000. n/t

[TBF]

3. True. It makes sense for sure ... folks 30-50 right now are the ones who are most

likely to be married, with children, in a job, still hanging on.

The folks over 50 are being laid off (and good luck getting rehired at that age no matter what your experience), threats to social security, dealing with medical bills etc... Folks under 30 are occupying our large cities because they come out of school and have few prospects for employment. Their future can't look that bright right now. So I'm guessing the happiest folks are those who are in the middle and still clinging to their employment.

I always think of my generation (X) as sort of being forgotten, kind of lost in the shadow of the baby boomers ahead of us so it's kind of cool to see that a study was done at all.