For decades, movies and pop culture have depicted the midlife crisis as an inevitable turning point—think Crazy, Stupid, Love or American Beauty.
But new research suggests that this “unhappiness hump” may no longer exist.
According to scientists, the peak in stress, worry, and depression once associated with middle age has shifted, leaving younger generations facing the highest levels of mental ill-being instead.
What Researchers Found
A team from Dartmouth College analyzed surveys covering over 10 million adults in the United States and 40,000 households in the United Kingdom.
Traditionally, studies have shown a U-shaped trend in wellbeing: high in youth, dipping in midlife around age 47, then rising again in older age.
Surprisingly, the new data indicates that this midlife dip has largely disappeared, replaced by declining mental health among younger people.
Researchers explained, “Ours is the first paper to show that the decline in young people’s mental health in recent years means that today, both in the United States and the United Kingdom, mental ill-being is highest among the young and declines with age.”
Possible Reasons Behind the Shift
While the exact causes remain unclear, experts have suggested several contributing factors.
The lingering effects of the Great Recession may have disrupted job prospects for younger people, leading to long-term stress and financial insecurity.
Underfunded mental health services, the psychological impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the pervasive use of social media and smartphones could also play a role.
The study notes, “The advent of smartphone technologies and the way they have impacted young people’s perceptions of themselves and their lives relative to their peers’ portrayal via social media may result in greater dissatisfaction with one’s own life.”
In other words, constant exposure to curated images of others’ successes can exacerbate feelings of inadequacy and unhappiness.
The Impact of the Pandemic and Economic Pressures
Researchers also highlighted that while the COVID-19 pandemic contributed to mental health challenges, the decline for young people began earlier, shortly after the Great Recession.
Slow labor market recovery and real wage stagnation have left successive cohorts of young adults struggling to meet expectations, further fueling anxiety and dissatisfaction.
Smartphones, Social Media, and Mental Health
The study discusses the controversial concept of “smartphone addiction,” noting that while the term is debated, excessive or problematic smartphone use—primarily to access social media—can amplify negative emotions.
Seeing constant comparisons with peers may create dissatisfaction in ways similar to financial or professional comparisons, reinforcing the decline in young people’s wellbeing.
Looking Ahead
The disappearance of the midlife unhappiness hump raises critical questions about societal priorities and the mental health of younger generations.
The researchers hope their findings will inspire further study into happiness and wellbeing across the lifespan.
As they conclude, “There is no longer a hump-shape in ill-being by age.
The question this begs is what to do about this phenomenon of a global decline in youth well-being that shows no sign of abating.”
