William Shakespeare coined the phrase “the green-eyed monster” to describe jealousy in his 1603 play Othello.
Over 400 years later, jealousy remains pervasive in everyday life and can be seen in everything from pets to jokes about royalty.
A new exclusive poll conducted by Redfield & Wilton Strategies for Newsweek reveals that Gen Z is the most jealous generation compared to previous generations.
The survey, conducted online from June 27 to 28, 2024, assessed the responses of 2,500 US voters. Participants were asked to rate their level of jealousy in their daily lives on a scale of 0 (not at all) to 5 (very much).
Only 7% of all participants rated their jealousy level as a 5, or very jealous. More than a third, 36%, rated their jealousy level as a 0, or not jealous at all.
Among all respondents, Gen Zers (ages 18-26) were the least likely to rate their jealousy as 0, at just 21%, compared to 32% of Millennials (ages 27-42), 40% of Gen Xers (ages 43-58), and 51% of Baby Boomers and Silent Generations (ages 59 and over).
Although only 10% of Gen Z participants rated their jealousy at the extreme end of the scale (5 on a 5-point scale), this result was enough to make them stand out as the most jealous generation, as they also had the smallest percentage of people who claim to never feel jealous.
Jealousy can manifest itself in many different aspects of life, from relationships to personal achievements to possessions. Jealousy is a completely natural emotion, but excessive or pathological jealousy can be harmful to both the person feeling it and those around them.
Christy Tse, founder of Uncover Mental Health Counselling, told Newsweek that Gen Z often faces outside pressures. “Social media can intensify feelings of jealousy and inferiority through constant exposure to curated, idealised lives,” Tse said.
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But Tse added that Gen Z’s connection to their emotions isn’t a bad thing. “On the other hand, this generation’s increased awareness and openness about mental health allows for a wider range of emotional expression, leading to greater well-being and empathy,” Tse said. “As a psychotherapist, I see Gen Z’s unique challenges and strengths paving the way for a nuanced emotional landscape.”
Breaking the data down further, 17 percent of participants rated their jealousy at a low level of 1, with this percentage being slightly higher for men (17 percent) than women (16 percent). Among Gen Z, 12 percent rated their jealousy at level 1, compared to 15 percent of Millennials, 20 percent of Gen X, and 18 percent of Baby Boomers and Silent Generations.
Overall, 17% of respondents rated their jealousy level at a 2, but it’s notable that 24% of Gen Zers rated their jealousy level at a 2, the highest of all age groups, followed by Millennials at 18%, Gen X at 13%, Baby Boomers and the Silent Generation at 13%.
Next, 16% of respondents rated their jealousy at a moderate level 3, followed by 20% of Gen Z, 17% of Millennials, 16% of Gen X, and 10% of Baby Boomers and Silent Generations.
Only 8% of participants rated their jealousy levels as high as 4, compared to 13% of Gen Z, 10% of Millennials, 6% of Gen X, and 4% of Baby Boomers and Silent Generations.
Jealousy levels varied by region: participants in the South had the highest average jealousy levels, with 17% rating their jealousy as a 5 (very much), compared to 8% in the West, 8% in the Midwest, and 8% in the Northeast.
Jealousy levels also varied by political stance: 8% of people who voted for Donald Trump in the 2020 presidential election rated their jealousy level at 5, compared with 6% of those who voted for Joe Biden.
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom, seeking common ground and finding connections.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom, seeking common ground and finding connections.
