As someone who might be considered "vertically challenged," I often find myself struggling to reach the highest shelves in the grocery store. This situation happens on nearly every shopping trip, and while a simple request could easily solve the problem, I often don't make it.
A new survey suggests that this behavior is fairly typical for my generation. The nationwide poll of 2,000 U.S. adults—split evenly among Gen Z, millennials, Gen X, and baby boomers—found that there's one thing the younger generations are more likely to do than their older counterparts when responding to everyday challenges, including financial ones.
Read on to find out what younger generations are asking for and why there’s no shame in making this request, no matter your age.
What request are younger generations more likely to make?
Compared with people of older generations, millennials and Gen Zers are far more likely to ask for help, especially with money, the survey says. Conducted by Talker Research on behalf of AI lending marketplace Upstart, the survey found that younger generations view asking for help as a positive thing, while Gen Xers and baby boomers show more hesitation.
“Respondents said they don’t mind asking for help in general and that it should be destigmatized across the board,” says Joseph Staples, with Talker Research.
How did the survey determine the results?
Talker Research surveyed 2,000 Americans spanning four generations—500 in each group—to find out how people of all ages view asking for support. In addition to asking about challenging situations in general, the survey included questions about topics like financial challenges, financial stress levels, the benefits of asking for support, how often you ask for help, and who you are most likely to ask for assistance.
The survey went out to Gen Zers, millennials, Gen Xers, and baby boomers between Sept. 30 and Oct. 6, 2025. From there, researchers distilled the data to determine which generations are most likely to ask for assistance and which go it alone.
How do different generations view asking for help?
Each generation has a different take on asking for help, particularly as it relates to how likely they are to ask and how they feel about asking. Let’s break it down.
Younger generations see it as a good thing
Your comfort level with asking for help largely depends on your age, with the two younger generations holding more favorable views of requesting support. Here are the percentages of people in each generation who see asking for help as positive:
- Millennials (71%)
- Gen Z (66%)
- Gen X (54%)
- Baby boomers (45%)
Younger adults’ openness may stem from cultural shifts, says Melissa George, founder and CEO of InvestHER Fiduciary Solutions in Atlanta. “They grew up in a culture that normalizes therapy, coaching, and online communities, so seeking guidance feels like a strength rather than a weakness,” she says.
Financial worries prompt requests for help
According to the survey, 87% of Americans say finances add to their anxiety. This financial stress comes most often from these circumstances:
- Living paycheck to paycheck (41%)
- Handling unexpected costs (23%)
- Managing high-interest debt (13%)
- Feeling a lack of support (12%)
When you’re financially pinched and short on options, help looks like a lifeline. That may be why younger generations are more likely to ask for financial support. “People feel a lot of financial stress right now,” Staples says, “and they see that financial support system in a positive light more so now than ever before.”
As George points out, their openness to asking for help is a smart problem-solving strategy. “High student loan balances, rising living costs, and delayed wealth accumulation mean they often require support earlier and more frequently,” George says. “But their willingness to reach out is rooted less in helplessness and more in a belief that information is accessible and that collaboration leads to better outcomes.”
Gen Z worries the most about being judged
If put in a challenging position and forced to decide between asking for help and managing without, 26% of all respondents said they’d rather ask for assistance, the survey showed. But 40% of respondents said it depends on the situation.
Slightly more than half (53%) of Americans say they don’t like asking for help because they are worried they will be judged for that choice. Despite Gen Zers being the most likely to fear judgment (as 64% of them do), they are also among those more likely to ask for help.
Help is often nearby
When people decide to ask for help, they tend to turn to the folks around them whom they trust the most. According to the survey, that’s most often:
- Their friends (39%)
- A partner (36%)
- Their mom (24%)
- Extended family members (23%)
When people ask for assistance, they are not just seeking answers. “They seek empathy, transparency, and a collaborative relationship,” George says.
What makes this generational shift so significant?
Younger generations' growing willingness to ask for help marks a meaningful cultural shift—one that signals the erosion of long-standing stigmas around seeking support. “It’s natural for people to feel this internal struggle when it comes to asking for help, but this survey shows that the stigma is slowly fading away,” says Erin Opperman, vice president of creative at Upstart. “Having systems in place to help people progress is how we grow together as a society.”
While the study measured attitudes rather than root causes, “what’s clear is that financial stress is being felt across generations, and people increasingly want stigma-free support and clear guidance for money decisions—while younger adults appear more comfortable saying that out loud,” Opperman says.
Survey respondents echo this sentiment. “[We should make] people feel like it’s OK to ask for help,” one respondent said. “It would empower people to find the resources they need.” Another said the shift depends on “normalizing open conversations about struggles and framing asking for help as a sign of strength, not weakness.”
This shift matters because seeking help offers real benefits. Some respondents say that asking for help provides relief from emotional strain, while others note the clarity that comes from getting a “different perspective” and having “a different set of eyes” look at their challenges—and that can yield better results. “The job is often done better,” one respondent noted.
They also point to how seeking help strengthens connection, whether through “gaining trust” or the idea that “we all need help at one time or another.”
The trend toward seeking help is particularly noteworthy when confronting challenging financial situations. “This shift is significant because it challenges the old mindset that people should struggle through financial problems alone,” George says. “When younger generations treat money conversations as normal, they reduce stigma, increase financial literacy, and create space for healthier long-term habits.”
How, exactly, do you ask for help?
With more people embracing the idea of seeking support—especially in financial situations—George says there are practical ways to make those conversations productive.
She offers these tips:
- Be clear about the situation and what you need.
- Be honest about what you want to understand.
- Be open to guidance that might challenge your assumptions.
- Reach out early rather than waiting until things feel urgent.
“Asking for help brings clarity, reduces costly mistakes, and allows people to make informed decisions rather than reactive ones,” she says. So next time you hit a wall (or can’t reach something on the top shelf), don’t be afraid to say the magic words: Can I get some help?
