by Valerie Harkins, Executive Director of the Maternity Housing Coalition

As leaders and advocates in the maternity housing space, understanding the generational differences between Millennial, Gen Z, and Gen Alpha women is essential to providing responsive, compassionate, and effective care. Each generation has been shaped by unique societal forces, technology, and cultural movements. These factors influence how they view the world, identify themselves, engage with spirituality, and interact with support systems.

This article explores the defining traits of Millennials, Gen Z, and Gen Alpha, with a particular focus on how their differences impact the design and delivery of maternity housing programs. Most importantly, it offers research-backed strategies for adapting our programs to meet the needs of Gen Z women and mothers, who now make up the majority of women entering our homes.

Generational Snapshots: Who Are They?

Millennials (born approx. 1981–1996)

• Worldview: Shaped by 9/11, the 2008 recession, and the rise of the internet.
  
  
• Religion: Many Millennials identify as “spiritual but not religious.” Pew Research finds that 29% identify as religiously unaffiliated.
  
  
• Identity: Value authenticity, self-expression, and purpose-driven work.
  
  
• Experiences: Came of age with dial-up internet but adapted quickly to tech advancements.
  
  
• Behavior & Trends: Highly educated, skeptical of institutions, more likely to delay marriage and childbirth, and value social justice.
  
  

Gen Z (born approx. 1997–2012)

• Worldview: Defined by the internet age, social media, school shootings, climate anxiety, and COVID-19.
  
  
• Religion: The least religious generation to date; more likely to identify as agnostic, atheist, or spiritual-but-not-religious. Barna research shows that only 4% of Gen Z holds a biblical worldview.
  
  
• Identity: Embraces fluidity in identity—including gender and sexuality. Mental health, diversity, and inclusion are top priorities.
  
  
• Experiences: Digital natives. Socialized online. Often experienced isolation, especially during critical developmental years due to the pandemic.
  
  
• Behavior & Trends: Experience high levels of anxiety and depression; value transparency, inclusivity, and social activism. Less trusting of authority but very peer-influenced.
  
  

Gen Alpha (born approx. 2013–2025)

• Worldview: Still forming, but early data shows they will be the most technologically immersed generation. AI, climate change, and post-pandemic realities are shaping their upbringing.
  
  
• Religion/Identity: Still largely dependent on parental influence but projected to be even more secular and globally aware.
  
  
• Trends: Education and media are highly personalized. Influenced by short-form content (TikTok, YouTube Shorts), interactive tech, and values-based branding.
  
  

Implications for Maternity Housing: Gen Z vs. Millennials

While Millennials may still be present in our homes, Gen Z now makes up the majority of women entering maternity housing programs. This shift requires us to re-evaluate our approaches—from program structure to communication styles.

Key Differences That Affect Care

Suggestions for Effective Programming for Gen Z Moms

1. Prioritize Mental Health & Trauma-Informed Care

Gen Z has been dubbed the “anxious generation.” According to the American Psychological Association, Gen Z is twice as likely as Millennials to report poor mental health.

What Works:

• Trauma-informed staff training
  
  
• On-site counseling and teletherapy options
  
  
• Wellness routines (journaling, mindfulness, peer support groups)
  
  
• Peer-led mental health education workshops
  
  

2. Revamp Spiritual Formation Models

Traditional Bible studies may not resonate. Gen Z is curious but deeply skeptical of religious institutions.

What Works:

• Story-based teaching rooted in personal experience
  
  
• Focus on spiritual conversations over religious instruction
  
  
• Emphasize identity, belonging, and purpose through a biblical lens
  
  
• Use visual storytelling, music, and creative expression
  
  

3. Design for Digital Natives

Gen Z learns and connects through screens. Programs must accommodate short attention spans and tech fluency.

What Works:

• Short, video-based lessons (think: 5–10 minute devotionals or parenting tips)
  
  
• QR codes linked to resources or testimonies
  
  
• Digital journaling or app-based self-reflection
  
  
• Instagram-style boards for visioning or goal-setting
  
  

4. Normalize Identity Conversations

Gen Z is navigating fluidity in gender, sexuality, and identity. While maternity housing may not affirm all ideologies, it must engage these women with grace and empathy.

What Works:

• Non-judgmental language in intake and interactions
  
  
• Emphasize God-given identity, value, and dignity
  
  
• Use peer mentors who model integrity and compassion
  
  
• Create space for questions and honest conversations
  
  

5. Offer Customizable Life Skills Tracks

Gen Z expects personalization. One-size-fits-all programming often leads to disengagement.

What Works:

• Modular curriculum based on goals (e.g., employment, education, parenting)
  
  
• Self-paced learning options
  
  
• Incentive-based engagement (e.g., digital badges, milestone rewards)
  
  

6. Center Peer Influence and Mentorship

Gen Z relies heavily on peer feedback and social proof. Programs should foster authentic community and peer leadership.

What Works:

• Peer-led support groups or house meetings
  
  
• Older Gen Z or Millennial alumni mentors
  
  
• Testimony-sharing and story circles
  
  
• Collaborative goal-setting and accountability partners
  
  

Looking Ahead: Preparing for Gen Alpha

While Gen Alpha moms are not in our homes yet, their formative years are underway. They will expect hyper-personalized, on-demand, emotionally intelligent environments. Programs that begin adapting today—leaning into tech, emotional literacy, and spiritual resilience—will be best positioned to serve tomorrow’s mothers.

Gen Z mothers bring unique challenges and profound opportunities. They are bold, curious, digitally native, and fiercely values-driven. To serve them well, maternity housing leaders must reimagine programming that is trauma-informed, spiritually engaging, tech-forward, and relationally rich. By doing so, we not only meet their immediate needs—we shape a generation of resilient, faith-rooted, and empowered mothers.

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Sources

1. Pew Research Center (2019). Defining generations: Where Millennials end and Gen Z begins.
   https://www.pewresearch.org
   
2. McCrindle Research (2020). Generation Alpha Report.
   https://mccrindle.com.au
3. Barna Group (2021). The Open Generation: How Teens Around the World View God, Scripture, and the Church.
   https://www.barna.com
   
4. Pew Research Center (2021). About three-in-ten U.S. adults are now religiously unaffiliated.
   https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2021/12/14/about-three-in-ten-u-s-adults-are-now-religiously-unaffiliated/
   
5. American Worldview Inventory (2023). Only 4% of Gen Z Hold a Biblical Worldview. Cultural Research Center, Arizona Christian University.
   https://www.arizonachristian.edu
6. American Psychological Association (2018–2023). Stress in America Survey.
   https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/stress
   
7. McKinsey & Company (2021). True Gen: Generation Z and its implications for companies.
   https://www.mckinsey.com
8. Deloitte (2023). Global Gen Z and Millennial Survey.
   https://www2.deloitte.com
   
9. Pew Research Center (2022). Teens, Social Media and Technology 2022.
   https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2022/08/10/teens-social-media-and-technology-2022/
   
10. Common Sense Media (2023). The State of Mental Health in U.S. Teens.
    https://www.commonsensemedia.org
11. Barna Group (2022). How the Next Generation Engages with Faith. 
    https://www.barna.com/research/gen-z-engagement/
    
12. Education Week (2021). Teaching Gen Z: What Educators Need to Know About Today’s Students.
    https://www.edweek.org