A recent multi-country study reveals that young adults are experiencing lower levels of happiness than individuals facing mid-life crises. This shift contradicts decades of research that identified a midlife “unhappiness hump,” highlighting a worrying trend in mental health among Generation Z.
The analysis, conducted by researchers David G. Blanchflower, Alex Bryson, and Xiaowei Xu, indicates that the traditional U-shaped curve of life satisfaction has flattened or even reversed for today’s youth. The findings, published last week, attribute this change to a notable increase in mental health challenges among young people.
Blanchflower shared insights with The Times of London, stating, “We started out seeing this in the US, where we initially found that despair—where people say that every day of their life is a bad mental health day—has exploded for the young, especially among young women. We then found the same in the UK. And we have now seen that all around the world.”
Global Decline in Early-Life Flourishing
Supporting these findings, the Global Flourishing Study—a collaboration among Harvard, Baylor, and Gallup—demonstrates that younger adults now begin their lives with lower flourishing scores. Unlike previous generations, they do not experience significant improvements until later in life.
Arthur C. Brooks, a columnist for The Atlantic, remarked, “Given the well-documented increase over the past decades in diagnosed mood disorders among adolescents and young adults, we might expect that the left side [younger adults] to be pushed down in newer estimates. And sure enough, this is exactly what the new GFS study finds, in the U.S. and around the world: The flourishing scores don’t fall from early adulthood, because they now start low; they stay low until they start to rise at the expected age.”
U.S. Data Highlights Growing Concerns
Recent polling data from the United States underscores the downward trend in well-being among young adults. A survey conducted by the Gallup-Walton Family Foundation in August found that only 39% of Gen Z adults consider themselves “thriving,” a decline of five points from 2024. In contrast, middle and high school students report higher rates of well-being, raising questions about the factors affecting this demographic.
As discussions surrounding the causes of declining happiness intensify, various researchers point to social media usage and increased screen time as significant contributors. Additionally, issues such as loneliness, economic pressures, and family stress are often cited. In a move aimed at addressing these concerns, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek H. Murthy advocated for warning labels on social platforms to inform users about potential mental health risks. Separate analyses by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have linked rising stress and anxiety levels among teens to increased substance use.
The findings of this study highlight a pressing need for further investigation into the mental health challenges faced by younger generations, urging policymakers and communities to take action to support their well-being. As the landscape of youth mental health continues to evolve, understanding these trends will be crucial in fostering a healthier future for young adults globally.
