Overview

• Researchers report a reversal of the long-observed U-shaped life course, with young adults now the least psychologically well-off group.
• The study pools large UK and US surveys with Global Minds data from nearly two million respondents across 42 countries, indicating a broad signal.
• In the United States, 2009–2018 data show the classic midlife low, but 2019–2024 data show young adults worst off, driven by deteriorating youth mental health rather than big midlife gains.
• Proposed contributors include long-run labor-market scarring from the financial crisis, COVID-era restrictions, and social-media pressures, with girls and young women cited as particularly affected.
• Germany’s RKI finds nearly 40% of 18–29-year-olds report low well-being versus about 17% among 65–79-year-olds, as experts caution that current cross-sectional surveys cannot establish causation or whether the shift will persist.