Why are young people feeling less happy?

The U-shaped happiness curve

The U-shaped happiness curve suggests that “happiness rises initially to a peak around age 30 and then declines into midlife and then rises again after age 70,” according to David Blanchflower, a professor of economics at Dartmouth College.

Blanchflower co-wrote one of the initial research papers that introduced the concept of the U-shaped happiness curve back in 2008. Hundreds of studies since the early 1970s in many countries around the world have shown the same pattern.

However, recent research indicates that young adults — ages 18 to 25 — are reporting lower happiness levels than those in their 40s and 50s.

Blanchflower’s latest working paper, co-authored with Alex Bryson and Xiaowei Xu, reveals a shift in the happiness pattern, with happiness starting low in young adulthood and increasing with age.

“We thought it was the U.S., but … we’re seeing it everywhere, and that’s why we’re panicking,” Blanchflower told Scientific American.

Analyzing data from the CDC’s Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, the paper focused on participants who reported experiencing “stress, depression, and problems with emotions” for 30 consecutive days.

“We have to focus on the people at the extremes,” Blanchflower stated. “Think about those who are most susceptible to commit suicide, to have deaths of despair. These are the people who say, ‘Every day of my life is a bad mental health day.'” By 2023, researchers noted the highest increase in responses from those ages 18 to 25, particularly among young women, with Blanchflower estimating that 11 percent of young women are in despair.

Blanchflower is uncertain about the reasons behind the unhappiness among young adults, but he points out that the downward trend began before the Covid-19 pandemic. He suggests that the rise of social media and smartphones might be a significant factor, noting that the shift in happiness for young people likely started around 2014.

Amber Wimsatt Childs, a clinical psychologist and associate professor at the Yale School of Medicine, has her theories on why the happiness curve has changed. She highlights the impact of ongoing humanitarian crises and the pressure on young people to innovate and create solutions.

Wimsatt Childs believes that social media has amplified pre-existing concerns, stating, “What social media has done in a lot of ways is it has amplified concerns that were already well underway.” Social media platforms like Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok inundate users with information, leading to increased peer comparison.

Wimsatt Childs offers advice for young adults seeking to enhance their happiness:

1. Define your values: Align your behaviors with your deeply held beliefs.
2. Be mindful of comparisons: Use comparisons to foster gratitude rather than negativity.
3. Manage stress: Reduce stress levels by prioritizing sleep hygiene and exercise, and consider limiting social media use before bed.

She encourages parents and loved ones to understand the challenges faced by young adults and to validate their struggles with mental health. Engaging in healthy activities together can also be beneficial.

Ultimately, Wimsatt Childs emphasizes the importance of seeking professional support when needed, stating that it’s normal and expected for young people to seek help.