Over 40 million American adults – about 19% – live with one anxiety disorderaccording to the National Institutes of Health.
Studies show that this stress is more prevalent among young people. In recent years social psychologists such as Jonathan Hyde have begun to make connections between technology use and stress. They argue that the ubiquity of smartphones and social media can affect not only young people’s habits and emotions but also key aspects of their brain development during adolescence.
Maintaining a consistent online presence can pay off excessive social comparison, disturbed sleep, fragmented attention and increased exposure to cyberbullying; – all of which can increase the prevalence of stress.
we are public health and policy researchers with one interest in mental health. We understand that this problem goes far beyond youth anxiety. Evidence is increasingly linking this type of prolonged stress to a range of detrimental health issues, including weakened immune function, increased cardiovascular risk and reduced cognitive performance. Over time, these effects can increase the risk of chronic diseases and other negative health outcomes.
So in May 2025 we we did our own research to measure the prevalence of stress in the state we live in, Florida, and investigate whether it is actually related to age and social media use.
What our survey asked for
We surveyed 500 adults and designed our survey to ensure that our survey group matched the state’s population in terms of age, race, gender, political affiliation, and geographic distribution.
We used a questionnaire called the GAD-7which was developed by mental health professionals to assess symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder. The GAD-7 asks participants to indicate how much they were bothered about seven items in the past two weeks. They answered on a four-point scale, from “not at all” to “almost every day.” These seven items included questions about worry, irritability, restlessness, and feeling fearful or angry.
A score below 10 indicates minimal (0-4) or mild (5-9) anxiety. Those who score between 10 and 14 experience moderate anxiety, while a score of 15 or higher is indicative of a severe anxiety disorder.
The difference between moderate and severe generalized anxiety corresponds to how often the participant experiences any of the seven items. For example, someone with severe generalized anxiety disorder may experience all seven items almost every day, while someone with moderate generalized anxiety disorder may have experienced any of the items several days in the past two weeks.
We also asked participants about how much time they spend on social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, and how they feel when using these platforms.
What we found
Our research found that about 1 in 5 Floridians struggle with moderate to severe anxiety, which is consistent with national statistics.
While the average GAD-7 score was 4.74 – which would indicate that the “average” Floridian does not have an anxiety disorder – 18.6% of participants reported at least moderate anxiety symptoms, with nearly half of those rising to the severe level.
This result tells us that nearly 3.5 million Floridians may suffer from clinically significant anxiety.
Members of Generation Zages 18 to 27 in our sample reported the highest rates of anxiety by a significant margin. In fact, the average GAD-7 score for this group was 8.17 – just below the cutoff for moderate anxiety – compared to an average of 6.50 for millennials, 5.32 for Gen Xers and 3.04 for baby boomers.
These averages track with previous nationwide studies, which have found that the segment of the US adult population suffering the most stress are members of Gen Z. According to a study conducted in 2020, 30.9% of adults aged 18 to 23 reported symptoms of generalized anxiety disordercompared to only 27.9% of millennials, 17.2% of Gen Xers and 8.1% of baby boomers.
Social media and stress in Gen Z
In order to understand whether social media use may help explain the higher rates of stress we observed in younger Florida residents, we examined the relationship between time spent on social media and stress.
Overall, those who did not use social media at all reported lower levels of anxiety, with a mean GAD-7 score of 3.56. In comparison, the mean GAD-7 score for those who used social media less than one hour per week was 3.74 and increased steadily as social media use increased, rising to an average of 6.10 among those who spent seven to nine hours per week on social media and 7.08 for those who were online for 10 hours or more.
While time spent was important, the reasons Floridians used social media also made a big difference in whether they experienced stress. Anxiety was lower among those who use social media primarily to stay connected with family and friends. But it grew significantly among those who use social media to keep up with current trends and pop culture, or to learn about health, fitness and beauty trends.
We also asked respondents if they “sometimes feel like they’re missing out when they see what others post on social media.” Among those who agreed that they sometimes take to social media FOMOthe mean anxiety score ranged between 7.26 and 9.00. But among those who disagreed, the average scores were significantly lower – 4.16 or less.
Time spent on social media is about young people
In this data, we see a clear correlation between social media use and increased stress, and we also see a greater tendency for Gen Zers and millennials to report higher levels of stress. This makes sense, given that younger people generally spend more time on social media.
But an important question remained to be answered: Could reducing social media use lead to lower stress rates for younger adults?
To answer this question, we reexamined the relationship between average weekly social media use and stress. But this time, we limited the analysis to only those respondents who were members of the Gen Z and millennial groups.
Even when the study was limited to just these two groups, we found a clear and decisive relationship between social media use and stress. Those who reported spending less than an hour on social media each week had a mean GAD-7 score of 2.89. These scores rose steadily as time spent on social media increased, reaching a high of 8.73 among those using social media 10 hours or more per week.
Moderate your intake to reduce stress
The results of our research seem to confirm the suspicions of social psychologists and technology critics – namely, that the high rates of stress seen in younger Americans appear to be linked to their time online. This is especially true for those who spend time in digital spaces that facilitate social comparison and information overload.
We can’t be sure from this research alone that social media alone is responsible for increased generalized anxiety. Other factors may be involved, such as digital information overload and a reduction in personal contact. But time spent on social media appears to be affecting the mental health of young people in Florida.
A possible solution may be moderate intake. Some emerging research has suggested setting automated daily reminders; to limit social media use to 30 minutes a day. Another sentence includes occasionally taking a month break from social media.
Those who feel they need more support taking time off social media may benefit from seeking professional help, such as talking to a licensed therapist.
Read more stories from The Conversation about Florida.
