Gen Z are the biggest overthinkers with 1 in 7 ‘spiralling’ over everyday things | UK | News
Gen Z are the biggest overthinkers – with 69% admitting they often spiral over everyday things. A poll of 2,000 adults found millennials follow close behind, with 63% often overthinking things, but this drops to just 38% of Boomers.
According to the research, 28% of Gen Zers admit to being a ‘chronic overthinker’. Going back over embarrassing moments (51%) is Gen Z’s most commonly overthought scenario, followed by things they didn’t say but wish they had (50%), and how their text messages will be perceived (43%).
The research was commissioned by Extra Gum, which has teamed up with reality TV star Stephen Libby, to become its Chief Overthinking Officer and mark the launch of its new EXTRA Plus chewing gum range.
Stephen said: “I know the overthinking spiral all too well. I’ve been in many rooms where every look, comment or pause has been second guessed – and this research shows we’re all doing it daily.
“I’m especially guilty with texts – rewriting one message three times, hitting send, then rereading it again… and if there’s a full moon, I’m 100% going back for another look.”
The study found 81% of Gen Z regularly get stuck in their own head. But social media is a key driver, with 56% admitting they have deleted a post if they didn’t get ‘enough’ likes or comments within the first hour, something only 25% of all Brits do.
While 65% re-read texts they’ve sent, checking whether they sounded too dramatic or excessive (33%), too keen (27%), or not funny enough (27%).
Almost nine in 10 (86%) even deliberately delay replying so they don’t appear overly eager.
Voice notes offer no escape either, with 73% of Gen Z having re-recorded a “casual” message multiple times to get the tone just right, compared to just 32% of all adults overall.
It also emerged 82% of Gen Z also replay awkward conversations from their day, compared to just 56% of all Brits.
However, the research discovered the main explanation for their overthinking behaviour was the full moon. More than a quarter (27%) of all adults think this can impact how they think and feel, with this rising to 46% of Gen Z.
The research showed young adults believe they are more likely to spiral or overthink (14%), during the lunar phase. As a result, 62% of Gen Z say they’ll be more cautious about their behaviour during the two full moons, compared to just 35% of Brits overall.
Ahead of the second full moon of the month on May 31st, 20% of young adults are planning to be more careful about what they send, while 17% will avoid sending risky texts, and 16% are ready to blame the moon if things go wrong.
To mark the first full moon on 1st May, EXTRA Plus hosted a pop-up in Manchester, inviting Brits to share their overthinking confessions in real life.
Francesca Oddie, astrologer and the brand’s Cosmic Chaos Guide, said: “Full moons have a way of making everything feel a bit more ‘extra’ than usual, people read into things, second-guess decisions, and suddenly even a simple message feels like it means more than it does.
“With two full moons in one month, May really does feel like overthinking season, so it’s no surprise people say they’re being a bit more cautious. Whether you believe in it or not, it’s definitely a time when those second thoughts come out to play.”
