Gen Z Experiences Declining Happiness, Study Reveals Alarming Trends
Young adults today are experiencing lower levels of happiness compared to individuals facing mid-life crises, according to a recent multi-country study. This finding marks a significant reversal of decades-long research that identified a midlife “unhappiness hump.” The analysis, conducted by economists David G. Blanchflower, Alex Bryson, and Xiaowei Xu, reveals that the traditional U-shaped life-satisfaction curve has flattened or even flipped for today’s youth, primarily due to increasing mental health challenges.
The researchers found that rising levels of distress among young individuals, particularly young women, are contributing to this shift. “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,” Blanchflower stated in an interview with The Times of London. “We then found the same in the UK, and we have now seen that all around the world.”
Global Trends Reflect Declining Well-Being Among Youth
The findings align with data from the Global Flourishing Study, a collaboration involving Harvard, Baylor University, and Gallup. This research indicates that younger adults are beginning their lives with lower “flourishing” scores and do not experience significant improvements until later in life. According to Arthur C. Brooks, a columnist for The Atlantic, “Given the well-documented increase over the past decades in diagnosed mood disorders among adolescents and young adults, we might expect that left side [younger adults] to be pushed down in newer estimates.”
In practical terms, this means that flourishing scores do not decline from early adulthood as previously thought; they remain low until individuals start to age and improve their mental health.
In the United States, recent polling further underscores this trend. A survey conducted by the Gallup–Walton Family Foundation in August 2023 found that only 39% of Gen Z adults consider themselves “thriving,” a decline of five percentage points since 2024. In contrast, middle and high school students report higher levels of well-being, raising questions about what factors are influencing the mental health of young adults.
Identifying Contributing Factors to Youth Mental Health Issues
As discussions around these findings grow, experts are increasingly focusing on various potential causes. Some researchers point to the role of social media and screen time, while others highlight issues related to loneliness, economic pressures, and family stress. Dr. Vivek H. Murthy, the U.S. Surgeon General, has called for warning labels on social media platforms to address youth mental health risks. Additionally, analyses from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have linked rising levels of teen stress and anxiety to increased substance use.
The implications of this study are profound, as they suggest a pressing need to address the mental health crisis among young people. With the evidence mounting, stakeholders across various sectors must engage in meaningful dialogues to identify effective strategies for improving the well-being of the younger generation.
In conclusion, the downward trend in happiness among young adults not only reshapes our understanding of life satisfaction but also calls for urgent action to support mental health initiatives tailored to this demographic. The findings serve as a clarion call for society to prioritize the mental well-being of the youth and invest in solutions that foster resilience and flourishing throughout their lives.
