The pandemic and health restrictions have had a strong negative effect on the psycho-emotional state of young people and their involvement in civic activities.
The lives of young people globally are extremely complicated, with drama of all kinds, from academic to personal. Many adults, if given the choice of choosing a period in their lives to look back to, would certainly avoid the turmoil of the pre-30s.
The pandemic context has changed the preoccupations of Generation Z young people a little, both in Romania and globally. However, Romanians remain more anchored in financial and career issues than the global average, which is dominated by environmental concerns, unemployment and staying healthy, at least for Generation Z.
The COVID-19 pandemic has created uncertainty about Generation Z’s financial future, as a Deloitte study shows that 51% of young people in Romania say they are stressed almost permanently, compared to the global average of 46%.
So for the first time, Generation Z is facing an economic crisis, but also a crisis in the labour market. Until now, they have not had the opportunity to experience really difficult times, and the fact that they have quite sophisticated things at their fingertips does not make them appreciate what they have and who they are..
Of the five contemporary generations born before 1995, for members of Generation Z (1995-2010) the changes brought about by the current global crisis are new on all levels, having never before faced an adverse socio-economic context.
IWhether we are talking about a secondary school pupil about to take the baccalaureate exam, a student looking for the best master’s programme abroad, a new employee looking for his or her first job or a young couple about to get married, the pandemic has thrown all these plans into disarray and, what is more, has dramatically changed the way they can be rebuilt.
So, when it comes to the effects that the pandemic has had on this generation, “if we are talking about the young ones, between the ages of 10 and 18-19, still under the guardianship of their parents, then I can say that they are affected mainly from the perspective of direct socialisation interaction with their friends and are naturally much less affected by financial pressure,” says sociologist Romulus Oprica, adding that “of this group, the most affected are those who find themselves in the situation of having to sit an exam, whether it is at the end of secondary school or high school”.
Balance for well-being
In this rather bleak landscape, for young people under the pressure of school exams or just starting out in life, the ray of light is a balanced lifestyle that provides a solid foundation for them to make it safely through this historic period.
Young people need a healthy, balanced, diversified diet, containing all the food groups, vitamins and minerals to help them develop in a harmonious way.
As a teenager goes through all the age-specific changes, there is an increased need for certain vitamins, some playing a more important role than others. Proper nutrition is essential, as the body needs a variety of vitamins and minerals to grow, develop and stay healthy.
Beyond this natural need for physical development, the pandemic period has brought added stress to young people’s lives and the need for daily dietary supplementation becomes necessary.
Vitamin B12 is necessary for the formation of red blood cells and it has been observed that, in addition to poor memory, B12 deficiency can lead to dementia, confusion and depression.
Vitamin B6 also improves mental functions. A dietary supplement with B vitamins contributes to better mental clarity and improved concentration.
Magnesium plays an important role in neuronal connections and excitability of the nervous system and is strongly involved in metabolic processes that produce energy. We need magnesium on a daily basis in order to gain the ‘quiet’ to access information from the mind’s myriad of mental vaults.
Arginine is also an essential amino acid for growing young people and adolescents, as endogenous synthesis and dietary intake do not cover daily requirements.
Dietary supplements are not a substitute for a healthy lifestyle, they can only supplement certain deficiencies and can be a “lifeline” when we need more.
Introducing a product containing the B-vitamin complex, arginine and magnesium into the daily diet is a guarantee of academic and personal success for Generation Z.