Survey on Emotional Control and Release Among Gen Z

SHIBUYA109 lab., a youth marketing organization operated by SHIBUYA109 Entertainment, conducted a survey titled 'Survey on Emotional Control and Release Among Gen Z.' The research involved 587 individuals aged 15-24 through web surveys and exclusive interviews.

Overview

SHIBUYA109 lab. has observed a growing desire among young people to avoid excessive stimulation and external evaluation, preferring to control their emotional range. This trend is driven by the desire to remain in a consistently stable state without experiencing major emotional fluctuations. This study aims to clarify the realities of emotional control among the youth.

What is 'Nagi Mental'?

Young people today display a tendency to keep their mental state calm to avoid unnecessary emotional ups and downs and to keep those feelings private. SHIBUYA109 lab. calls this trend 'Nagi Mental' (calm mentality). According to the survey, 61.7% of respondents said they do not want their emotions suddenly moved, 67.9% feel resistant to showing emotional fluctuations to others, and 82.4% expressed a desire to control their emotions as much as possible.

Avoidance of Negative Displays

The most common behaviors they prefer not to show others include 'crying while sad' (51.6%), followed by 'being angry' (39.2%) and 'being jealous' (39.2%). Interviews revealed that they worry about making others uncomfortable or being disliked if they express negative feelings, indicating that social perception significantly influences their behavior.

Conversely, they tend not to suppress positive emotional expressions in public. Additionally, 80.6% reported that they differentiate how they express emotions depending on the community and the people they are with.