Optimism and Vitality in America: Building a Healthier, More Engaged Future

The 2024 Vitality in America Report by The Cigna Group highlights a growing sense of optimism among younger generations, particularly Generation Z.

One key takeaway from the report is that "While Gen Z adults continue to have the lowest overall vitality, they are acquiring the skills for a healthy life, feeling more in control in stressful periods, and becoming more optimistic."

According to the study, this growing optimism is driven by their increasing ability to manage stress and build confidence in achieving their health goals.

What is vitality? Vitality, as measured by the Evernorth Vitality Index (EVI), is defined as an individual’s ability to pursue life with health, strength, and energy. The EVI captures how people perceive their overall health and life, including their sense of control, ability to make choices, and connection across various aspects of well-being. It reflects physical, mental, and emotional health, which are essential to productivity, job performance, and life satisfaction.

What is optimism? Optimism is a belief that good things will happen and that things will work out in the end. It is this forward-looking perspective that helps individuals build resilience and cope more effectively with challenges.

Generational trends in vitality levels showed that Baby Boomers (born 1946–1964) reported the highest average vitality, and Generation Z adults (born 1997–2006) reported the lowest. However, "they’re steadily acquiring skills for a healthy life, feeling more in control during stressful times, gaining confidence in health goals, and becoming more optimistic since 2022".

A key theme of the report is the interconnection between vitality, optimism, and overall well-being. The data reveals that individuals with high vitality are more likely to feel optimistic, well-rested, and engaged. These high-vitality individuals are over five times more likely to wake up feeling refreshed than their low-vitality counterparts.

Like healthy behaviours, stress levels vary significantly between individuals with low and high vitality. The report says there is reason for optimism: In 2024, people with low vitality reported feeling slightly less stressed across five daily stressors than in 2023.

Optimism also emerges as a crucial factor within the workforce. Workers with high vitality perform better, experience higher job satisfaction, and are more willing to contribute extra effort toward their workplace’s success.

The report further highlights that positive manager relationships foster mental health and optimism, indicating that optimistic leadership can enhance employee vitality and engagement.

These findings align with broader research showing the benefits of optimism on mental and physical health, as documented in Optimism: The How and Why, as well as The Optimism Principle and The Optimism Effect. Optimism, especially realistic optimism, empowers individuals to navigate challenges more effectively, contributing to a virtuous cycle of well-being, productivity, and positive outcomes.

Positive manager relationships foster mental health and optimism, indicating that optimistic leadership can enhance employee vitality and engagement.

Is it time to have me deliver an Optimism: The How and Why workshop to your team or organisation?