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3w ago

Global Study Finds Midlife ‘Unhappiness Hump’ Has Vanished as Youth Distress Surges

Analyses across 44 countries show a generational downturn with causes still unproven.

A young man and a young woman stand in the shallow waters of the Bavarian Alps
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Overview

  • A PLOS One paper published August 27 reports that mental ill-being is now highest in young adults and declines with age in the U.S. and U.K.
  • U.S. CDC surveys of over 10 million adults (1993–2024) and UKHLS data (2009–2023) show the midlife peak has disappeared without notable improvement among people in their late 40s and older.
  • Global Minds data on nearly 2 million respondents from 44 countries (2020–2025) confirm the same age pattern internationally.
  • The shift is strongest in high‑income, English‑speaking countries and weaker where internet access is low, with reports that young women have been especially affected.
  • Authors cite possible contributors—recession scarring, underfunded services, COVID‑19 impacts, and social media—while stressing no causal link is established and urging youth‑focused policy action.