Why Young People Are Struggling | Angela Duckworth cover art

Why Young People Are Struggling | Angela Duckworth

Why Young People Are Struggling | Angela Duckworth

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 Why are young people today reporting the highest levels of anxiety, depression, loneliness, and despair in modern history?Dr. Angela Duckworth is a professor of psychology at the University of Pennsylvania and one of the world’s leading voices on grit, self-control, and the science of thriving. In this conversation with Dr. Michael Gervais, Angela reflects on how her thinking about grit has evolved, where it’s often misunderstood, and why perseverance without purpose can become harmful instead of helpful.They explore what excellence really looks like behind the scenes. Not the highlight reel, but the long stretch of deliberate practice and repeated effort that most people never see. Angela also reframes passion as something that develops over time, and offers a practical lens for staying committed when enthusiasm fades and outcomes take longer than expected.The conversation expands beyond performance into family life and parenting. They examine the cultural forces shaping today’s youth: the rise of social media, the erosion of in-person connection, the displacement of nature, and the unintended consequences of modern parenting. Angela shares what the data actually shows about the mental health crisis, and what we as parents, educators, and leaders can do about it. In this episode, you’ll learn:What grit really is, and what it isn’t Why excellence comes from high-quality practice over timeHow passion develops slowly, and why it can be treated like a skillHow to stay committed when motivation fadesWhy environments shape kids more than pressure doesWhy young people’s happiness has sharply declined since 2010What the research says about anxiety, depression, and loneliness in Gen ZHow screens and social disconnection may be reshaping well-beingPractical ways parents can create environments where kids can truly thrive________________________________________________________Links & ResourcesSubscribe to our Youtube Channel for more conversations at the intersection of high performance, leadership, and wellbeing: https://www.youtube.com/c/FindingMasteryGet exclusive discounts and support our amazing sponsors! Go to: https://findingmastery.com/sponsors/Subscribe to the Finding Mastery newsletter for weekly high performance insights: https://www.findingmastery.com/newsletter Download Dr. Mike's Morning Mindset Routine: findingmastery.com/morningmindset Follow on YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn, and XDavid Blanchflower Article: Blanchflower DG, Bryson A, Xu X (2025) “The declining mental health of the young and the global disappearance of the unhappiness hump shape in age.” https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0327858See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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