For decades, research into happiness across the lifespan has consistently revealed a U-shaped curve: happiness tends to decline from a peak in youth, reaching its lowest point in middle age before rising again in later years. However, new research from 44 countries, including the United States and the United Kingdom, indicates a significant shift in this pattern. The latest findings reveal an unprecedented peak of unhappiness among young people, a trend attributed to deteriorating mental health rather than increased happiness among older populations.
This development comes as data from the United States highlights the changing landscape of mental well-being. Utilizing publicly available health data, which surveys over 400,000 individuals annually, researchers identified a troubling increase in the percentage of young Americans experiencing despair from 1993 to 2024. Defined as individuals reporting poor mental health every day for the preceding 30 days, the data paints a stark picture of rising distress among the youth.
Shifting Patterns of Despair
Historically, levels of despair were highest among the oldest age group (45-70 years) and higher for middle-aged individuals (25-44 years) compared to the young (18-24 years). However, the percentage of young people in despair has surged dramatically. For men, this figure more than doubled from 2.5% in 1993 to 6.6% in 2024, while for women, it nearly tripled from 3.2% to 9.3%.
Despair among young women rose from 3.2% to 9.3% between 1993 and 2024.
While despair also increased among the middle-aged, the rise was less pronounced, moving from 4.2% to 8.5% for women and from 3.1% to 6.9% for men. The oldest demographic saw only a slight increase over the period. By 2023-24, this reversal in despair levels across age groups was particularly evident among women, with the youngest experiencing the highest levels of despair and the oldest the lowest. For men, despair levels were similar for the youngest and middle-aged groups, with the oldest group experiencing the least despair.
Global and Historical Context
The trends observed in the United States are mirrored in Britain, as evidenced by analyses of the UK Household Longitudinal Survey and the Annual Population Survey. Furthermore, similar patterns emerged in 42 other countries between 2020 and 2025, according to data from the Global Minds Project. These findings suggest a broader, global shift in the relationship between age and ill-being.
Between 2009 and 2018, despair followed a hump-shaped pattern across age groups. However, the rapid increase in despair among those under 45, and especially those in their mid-20s, has fundamentally altered this lifecycle profile. As a result, the hump-shaped pattern is no longer apparent between 2019 and 2024. While despair rose most sharply among the youngest group, it also increased for those up to age 45, remaining unchanged for those over 45.
Investigating the Causes
Research into the causes of these changes is ongoing but remains inconclusive. Notably, the rise in despair predates the COVID-19 pandemic, though the pandemic may have exacerbated the decline in young people’s mental health. A growing body of evidence points to a link between increased ill-being among the young and heavy internet and smartphone use. Some studies suggest that limiting smartphone access can significantly improve self-reported well-being among adults.
Research suggests that smartphone use may contribute to worsening mental health among youth.
However, even if screen time is a factor, it is unlikely to be the sole or primary cause of rising despair among the young. Recent, yet-to-be-peer-reviewed research indicates a diminishing protective effect of paid work on young people’s mental health. Although young people in employment tend to have better mental health than their unemployed peers, this gap has been narrowing as despair among young workers rises.
Policy Implications and Future Directions
While the precise causes of these changes remain to be fully understood, the implications are clear. Policymakers would be wise to prioritize the issue of rising despair among young people within any comprehensive well-being strategy. Addressing this growing crisis requires a multifaceted approach, considering the potential influences of technology, employment, and broader societal changes.
As research continues to explore the underlying causes and potential solutions, the hope is that a deeper understanding will lead to effective interventions, ultimately reversing the troubling trend of rising despair among the world’s youth.
