New research reveals that young people today are experiencing high levels of stress and depression, which is altering the traditional concept of happiness.

According to David Blanchflower, a professor of economics at Dartmouth College, the U-shaped happiness curve suggests that happiness increases to a peak around age 30, decreases during midlife, and then increases again after age 70.

Since the early 1970s, hundreds of studies in many countries have demonstrated the same pattern as the U-shaped happiness curve, which was first introduced in a research paper co-written by Blanchflower in 2008.

Currently, young adults aged 18 to 25 are experiencing a significant decline in happiness compared to individuals in their 40s and 50s.

Research shows that young adults are the unhappiest age group

A recent study by Blanchflower, co-authored with Alex Bryson and Xiaowei Xu, reveals a shift in the trend, with happiness levels being low in early adulthood and rising with age.

Blanchflower told Scientific American that we initially believed it was the U.S., but now we see it everywhere, which is causing us to panic.

In collaboration with other researchers, Blanchflower examined data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. The study centered on individuals who reported experiencing "stress, depression, and emotional issues" for 30 consecutive days, as indicated in the CDC's survey.

"Blanchflower emphasized the importance of focusing on individuals who are most vulnerable to suicide and despair. These individuals often describe their mental health as consistently poor."

In 2023, young women aged 18 to 25 reported the highest number of bad mental health days, with a significant increase in responses compared to other age groups.

Blanchflower stated in the publication that the most alarming and startling fact is that, according to his estimates, 11 percent of young women are in despair.

Experts agree social media has a negative impact on youth happiness

The downward trend in young adults' happiness began before the Covid-19 pandemic, according to Blanchflower.

Blanchflower identified the prevalence of social media and smart phones as the only potential factor contributing to the shift in happiness among young people, stating that the cause must have occurred around 2014.

A clinical psychologist and associate professor at the Yale School of Medicine, Amber Wimsatt Childs, has her own theories about why the happiness curve has shifted.

"Wimsatt Childs of Make It explains that taking a zoomed back perspective on war and its associated humanitarian crises, especially those that have occurred in the past 20 or 30 years, reveals that they have been multiplying."

Wimsatt Child reflects on the shift in commencement speeches towards emphasizing the importance of students' creativity and innovation in addressing global challenges.

"She says that many people in those seats are thinking, 'How am I going to afford my higher education or the things I've just done? I'll never be able to own a home,'" she says.

Social media has amplified concerns that were already well underway, according to Wimsatt Childs. She explains that social media put these concerns on a big screen for people to see.

The use of social media apps, such as Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok, exposes individuals to a vast amount of information and can result in increased peer comparisons on a broader scale, according to her.

Wimsatt Childs notes that people have always compared themselves to others, but the range of comparison might have been limited to those who are closer to them, such as people in their neighborhood or community.

How young adults can start to experience more happiness now

Wimsatt Childs offers guidance to young adults on how to increase their happiness during their youth.

1. When our behaviors align with our deeply held beliefs, we tend to live our best lives.
2. Comparison can be a useful tool if used to appreciate what you have, such as food and shelter, according to Wimsatt Childs.
3. Reducing stress levels is important for maintaining good health, including preventing heart problems, she advises. Strategies for managing stress include limiting exposure to stressors, such as avoiding social media before bed, prioritizing sleep hygiene, and exercising regularly.

She advises parents and loved ones of young adults to educate themselves on the challenges and stressors faced by those in their late teens and early 20s.

Wimsatt Childs recommends validating young adults when they express difficulties with their mental health and being available to participate in healthy activities with them, such as discussing emotions or going on walks together.

She emphasizes the importance of validating and supporting young people when they are struggling, and encouraging them to seek professional help, such as therapy, when needed.

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