Baby Boomers and Stress

The baby boomer generation consists of individuals born from 1946 to 1964. As they begin to head for retirement, some of them are in great financial shape. However, there are still many who are under much stress as they continue to raise their children and elderly parents. More money has to be put out for college education and they find themselves having to take out personal loans. Many have ended up in debt, even though they have had at their disposal what many individuals the generation before them did not: knowledge about saving and debt management. This definitely puts additional stress on their lives.

The health and stress levels of this particular generation have been studied many times. Those who proceeded into higher education and were not smokers or heavy drinkers had good health versus their counterpart, who reportedly has physical restrictions and multiple chronic conditions. But when you have individuals who have more or less succeeded in life, such as most baby boomers, they generally tend to take better care of themselves and to prepare for their future.

This generation also uses mental health assistance readily. The women will utilize this service more so than the men. This has caused a decrease in suicides for the baby boomer generation. However, even though their mental state maybe in semi-good order, their finances will be such that many of them will have to work beyond the age of 65 to allow themselves a continuance of a particular lifestyle. They will be more than likely able to retire by 72, but the stress of that extra work may affect them in adverse ways.