Study Reveals Decline in Young People’s Well-Being

(MENAFN) A new survey highlighted by a news agency on Sunday indicates that happiness levels and overall life quality among youth have dropped significantly, overturning the traditional curve of life satisfaction.

The research, released in the academic journal PLOS One, examined data from 44 nations gathered between 2020 and 2025.

It revealed that poor mental well-being is now concentrated most among the younger demographic, while levels of satisfaction gradually rise with age.

This downturn among the young has reversed the familiar U-shaped pattern of life contentment, which historically reached its lowest point around the age of 40 — commonly referred to as the midlife crisis.

Another investigation carried out by Realdania demonstrated that Denmark’s older generations continue to record the highest levels of life quality, according to the news agency.

"We just have to acknowledge that the generation that is currently between 18 and 29 years old - that is, those who are young and are establishing themselves with education and in the labor market - has a lower perceived quality of life than we have seen before. And that is something we should be concerned about as a society," explained Henrik Mahncke, director of analysis at Realdania.

Nonetheless, Mahncke pointed out that although younger groups report reduced well-being, the share of individuals who classify themselves as deeply unhappy is not markedly greater than that of middle-aged adults.

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