For many of us, high school was often described as the best time of our lives. But a new study by Dartmouth University Professor David Blanchflower and his colleagues suggests otherwise. Their research reveals a dramatic shift in the long-standing “U curve” of well-being, indicating that today’s youth face an uphill struggle toward happiness.
Blanchflower’s extensive research, which spans over 600 published papers, consistently showed that happiness followed a U-shaped curve throughout life: high in youth and old age, with a dip in midlife. This pattern was universal, found in 145 countries and even observed in great apes. However, since around 2017, this curve has flattened, with young adults now being the least happy age group.
The change is stark and alarming. Today, one in nine young women in America experiences a bad mental health day every day, and one in fourteen young men report the same. The rise in mental health issues, hospitalizations for self-harm, and suicide attempts among young people has been significant.
This trend isn’t confined to the U.S. Blanchflower’s follow-up studies found the same pattern in over 80 countries, indicating a global issue. Despite extensive research, the exact cause remains unclear. The decline in youth well-being started around 2011, well before COVID-19, and coincided with an improving job market, ruling out these factors as primary causes.
Blanchflower suggests the shift may be linked to something that began around 2014 and has a global impact on young people, particularly young women. While cell phones are a potential factor, no definitive cause has been identified.
The paper, which has not been peer-reviewed, is available on the SSRN server.
More: Young People Are Now So Unhappy That They’ve Changed A Fundamental Pattern Of Life
Finding Connection in a Disconnected World
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