How the COVID-19 Pandemic Shaped Gen Z and Millennials, 5 Years Later

It’s been five years since the Covid-19 lockdowns took hold across the U.S. While the mandates lasted only a few weeks, the ripple effects of the pandemic have left a lasting mark—particularly on Gen Z and Millennials.

Not all of those changes have been negative, however.

Young adults report that the pandemic had a positive effect on their lives much more frequently than older adults (17% of Gen Zers vs. just 4% of Boomers), according to a new study conducted by The Harris Poll. Our findings suggest that experiencing many formative moments during the pandemic may have better prepared younger adults for life post-COVID than older generations. For example, two-thirds of Gen Zers (65%, compared to just 22% of Boomers) say they had to relearn social skills after pandemic restrictions were lifted. At the same time, 32% of Gen Zers (compared to 11% of Boomers) say they now feel more comfortable meeting new people than they did before the pandemic.

While many young adults found positive aspects in their pandemic experience, the broader impact of COVID-19 was still significant, with a large portion of the population acknowledging its lasting effects. A third of U.S. adults (36%) say the COVID-19 pandemic had a very significant impact on their lives, according to a recent study by The Harris Poll. Younger generations, in particular, report being significantly affected by the pandemic more frequently than their older counterparts. Nearly half of adult Gen Zers (45%) and a similar number of Millennials (43%) view the pandemic as a highly impactful event in their lives, compared to just 31% of Gen X and 26% of Baby Boomers.

This discrepancy might seem surprising at first. The COVID-19 pandemic was (and remains) a generational event that impacted people from all walks of life. However, it’s likely that younger adults, particularly Gen Zers, experienced many formative moments under the shadow of the pandemic. Proms, first dates, freshman years of college, and the early stages of careers were all colored by the pandemic. For young adults, COVID-19 didn’t just affect their daily lives—it also shaped the development of their social identities and their journeys into adulthood. This is further illustrated by the fact that Gen Zers report much more frequently than Baby Boomers that the pandemic permanently changed how they view themselves (59% vs. 36%, respectively).

Gen Zers are also more likely than Boomers to say they now feel more comfortable having in-person conversations (33% vs. 17%), making small talk (23% vs. 15%), and physically touching others (28% vs. 16%) compared to before the pandemic.

What’s more, our data suggests that the COVID-19 pandemic (and the lockdowns that accompanied it) inspired younger Americans to take better care of their mental and physical health. Eight in 10 people over the age of 18 (82%), many of whom were teenagers during the lockdown, pursued at least one new hobby or skill during the pandemic.

Many of these new activities focused on wellness, such as exercising (weightlifting or running), starting self-care routines (like skincare or painting nails), or engaging in mental health practices like journaling and meditation. Even after the pandemic, many U.S. adults—particularly Gen Zers and Millennials—continue to stick with these habits because they’ve seen a tangible positive impact on their overall well-being.

In the years since the initial spread of COVID-19, the world has reckoned with the tidal wave of change brought about by the public health crisis. While it might seem counterintuitive that the pandemic could have a positive effect on some, surviving (and thriving) through the most formative years of one’s life during such a challenging time can foster resilience. Many young adults had this experience and likely choose to look back on the pandemic as a formative period in their lives rather than merely a tragedy. The pandemic affected everyone differently, and for many young adults, it likely taught them how to find a silver lining in even the toughest of circumstances.

This survey was conducted online in the United States by The Harris Poll from March 14th, 2025 to March 17th, 2025 among 1.088 U.S. adults, ages 18+. Figures were weighted where necessary to bring them into line with their actual proportions within the US population. Respondents for this survey were selected from a pool of potential respondents who have agreed to participate in The Harris Poll’s online research.