An insidious illness is taking hold among a growing proportion of young people. Little known to the general public, peniaphobia—the fear of becoming poor—is gaining ground among teens and young adults. Discover the causes and implications of this phenomenon.
A generation under constant pressure
Behind this still little-publicized term lies a very real, often paralyzing, anxiety that affects a generation already weakened by economic, social, and psychological uncertainties. Peniaphobia, once a marginal issue, is now being discussed by specialists and relayed in the media, as its effects become more visible. It can lead to chronic stress, eating disorders, insomnia, and even a worrying withdrawal.
The rise of peniaphobia cannot be understood without considering the context in which it occurs. Since the Covid-19 pandemic, many young people have been brutally confronted with precariousness: student jobs lost, difficulties paying rent, and recourse to food banks. These experiences have left lasting scars, notably a feeling of economic vulnerability that some are no longer able to assuage.
The pressure is also psychological and cultural, fueled by dominant discourses on success, failure, and performance. “It’s this race for success that conditions everything. As if not being able to be first calls their entire life into question,” child psychiatrist Marie-Rose Moro recently explained in La Croix.
The anxiety-inducing role of social networks
Social media platforms also play a major role in spreading this anxiety. On Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat, the most popular content depicts idealized lives: dream vacations, luxury outfits, immaculate apartments, dazzling professional success… A lifestyle that seems out of reach for many, fueling feelings of failure or inferiority.
For some young people, this translates into a constant fear of “failing in life” if they don’t quickly achieve a certain level of material comfort. The constant comparison, combined with fear of the economic future, makes peniaphobia a breeding ground for mental distress.
Varied and disabling symptoms
Peniaphobia doesn’t always manifest itself in visible crises. It can be insidious, rooted in daily habits. Some young people avoid spending a single cent, live extremely frugally, and refuse to go out or take on projects for fear of “mortgaging” their future. Others develop behavioral problems, ranging from generalized anxiety to eating disorders and even depression.
In the most severe cases, this fear takes the form of a true obsession, accompanied by intrusive thoughts or somatic disorders: headaches, chronic fatigue, palpitations. The feeling of constant urgency prevents any calm projection into the future.
How can we allay this fear of being downgraded?
There is no single solution, but several avenues can help reduce the impact of peniaphobia on daily life.
- Regain control over your breathing and thoughts. Breathing exercises or meditation can help manage anxiety spikes. At the same time, cognitive reconstruction work, such as learning to replace catastrophic thoughts with positive alternatives, can be beneficial.
- Disconnect from social injunctions. Remembering that social media doesn’t reflect reality is an essential exercise. Every journey is different, and the apparent success of others is often the result of carefully calibrated staging.
- Respect your personal pace. Success doesn’t follow a single timetable. It’s important to restore the value of slowness, progress, and development. This also helps reduce the unnecessary pressure many young people place on themselves.
- Seek professional help. In the most severe cases, consulting a psychologist or psychiatrist can help you put your anxiety into words, understand its origins, and develop appropriate support.
The emergence of peniaphobia among young people must therefore be considered a warning signal. It reveals a deep unease about a future perceived as uncertain, unstable, and threatening. It also testifies to the psychological impact of the models of success conveyed by our societies.
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