Despite the many modern tools and technologies that have made life easier and opened up new opportunities for young people, today's generation appears to be less happy than previous ones. According to recent surveys, the traditional "U-shaped" curve that researchers use to describe happiness over a lifetime is beginning to flatten for today’s youth.
For decades, research has shown that people's happiness tends to follow a U-shaped trajectory: it is high in youth, dips in middle age, and rises again in older age. Unfortunately, this pattern seems to be shifting for the current generation.
A Global Decline in Youth Well-being
As reported by The New York Times, a set of research papers published recently in Nature Mental Health shared global data on well-being from over 200,000 individuals across 20+ countries. The findings reveal that young adults aged 18 to 29, on average, are struggling—not just with happiness, but also with physical and mental health, self-image, finding purpose, the quality of their relationships, and financial security.
Commenting on the results, Tyler J. VanderWeele, lead author of the study and director of Harvard’s Human Flourishing Program, stated:
"These results paint a very grim picture and raise an important question: Are we investing enough in the well-being of young people?"
Technology and Isolation: A Double-Edged Sword
Despite technological advancements, their psychological impact appears to be largely negative. Many young people are withdrawing from social life, avoiding community and religious involvement. Loneliness, once seen mainly among the elderly, is now widespread among youth. Much of this may stem from pressure to meet unrealistic expectations.
Traditionally, youth has been viewed as a carefree stage of life—full of opportunity and light on responsibilities. But a 2023 study from Harvard’s Graduate School of Education revealed a different reality: young adults aged 18–25 reported worse levels of anxiety and depression compared to teenagers. Perfectionism has also risen significantly among college students.
Lauri Santos, psychology professor at Yale and host of The Happiness Lab podcast, commented:
"Studies show that social connection is key to happiness. But young people today spend less time with friends than they did a decade ago. They’re also grappling with other serious issues like climate change and economic instability."
What’s Next?
Dr. VanderWeele emphasized that happiness among youth is an urgent issue. The research project will continue through 2027, collecting annual data to better understand the root causes behind this happiness decline among young people.
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