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Generation Z's Challenges to Financial Independence: Adolescents' and Early Emerging Adults' Perspectives on Their Financial Futures

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Title: Generation Z's Challenges to Financial Independence: Adolescents' and Early Emerging Adults' Perspectives on Their Financial Futures
Language: English
Authors: Jennifer D. Rubin (ORCID 0000-0002-6649-6606), Katharine Chen, Allie Tung (ORCID 0000-0002-5477-5237)
Source: Journal of Adolescent Research. 2026 41(3):639-672.
Availability: SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 34
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: High Schools
Secondary Education
Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: Barriers, COVID-19, Pandemics, Generational Differences, Money Management, Financial Literacy, Long Range Planning, Early Adolescents, Late Adolescents, Economic Factors, Expectation, Aspiration, High School Students, College Students, Young Adults
Geographic Terms: Washington
DOI: 10.1177/07435584241256572
ISSN: 0743-5584
1552-6895
Abstract: This research examines how shared generational challenges, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, shape Generation Z's perceptions of their financial futures in the United States. We were particularly attentive to young people's "future orientation"--an individual's image of their future--as they developed aspirations, expectations, and plans for attaining financial independence in adulthood. In-depth interviews were conducted with 32 adolescents and early emerging adults (aged 14-22) from Washington State who were diverse in race and gender. We found that participants perceived the instability of the economic system in the U.S. as restricting Generation Z's ability to imagine and prepare for financial independence later in life. Participants responded to economic constraints, such as rising living costs and education, by altering their expectations, aspirations, and plans for their futures. These findings have implications for Generation Z's developmental transition to adulthood.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1502301
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
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  Data: Generation Z's Challenges to Financial Independence: Adolescents' and Early Emerging Adults' Perspectives on Their Financial Futures
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Jennifer+D%2E+Rubin%22">Jennifer D. Rubin</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6649-6606">0000-0002-6649-6606</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Katharine+Chen%22">Katharine Chen</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Allie+Tung%22">Allie Tung</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5477-5237">0000-0002-5477-5237</externalLink>)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Journal+of+Adolescent+Research%22"><i>Journal of Adolescent Research</i></searchLink>. 2026 41(3):639-672.
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  Data: SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com
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  Data: Y
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  Data: 34
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  Label: Publication Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 2026
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  Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22High+Schools%22">High Schools</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Secondary+Education%22">Secondary Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Higher+Education%22">Higher Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Postsecondary+Education%22">Postsecondary Education</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Washington%22">Washington</searchLink>
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  Data: 10.1177/07435584241256572
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  Data: 0743-5584<br />1552-6895
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
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  Data: This research examines how shared generational challenges, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, shape Generation Z's perceptions of their financial futures in the United States. We were particularly attentive to young people's "future orientation"--an individual's image of their future--as they developed aspirations, expectations, and plans for attaining financial independence in adulthood. In-depth interviews were conducted with 32 adolescents and early emerging adults (aged 14-22) from Washington State who were diverse in race and gender. We found that participants perceived the instability of the economic system in the U.S. as restricting Generation Z's ability to imagine and prepare for financial independence later in life. Participants responded to economic constraints, such as rising living costs and education, by altering their expectations, aspirations, and plans for their futures. These findings have implications for Generation Z's developmental transition to adulthood.
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  Data: 2026
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  Data: EJ1502301
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        PageCount: 34
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      – SubjectFull: Barriers
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: COVID-19
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      – SubjectFull: Pandemics
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      – SubjectFull: Generational Differences
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      – SubjectFull: Money Management
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      – SubjectFull: Early Adolescents
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      – SubjectFull: Late Adolescents
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      – SubjectFull: Economic Factors
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      – SubjectFull: Expectation
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      – SubjectFull: Aspiration
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      – SubjectFull: High School Students
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      – SubjectFull: Young Adults
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      – SubjectFull: Washington
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      – TitleFull: Generation Z's Challenges to Financial Independence: Adolescents' and Early Emerging Adults' Perspectives on Their Financial Futures
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