For decades, the idea of a “midlife crisis” has been treated as an inevitable turning point, reinforced by popular culture and academic research alike. Numerous studies previously identified an “unhappiness hump”; a rise in stress, anxiety and low wellbeing that peaked in midlife, typically around the late 40s, before easing in later life.
However, new research from Dartmouth College suggests this long-held pattern may no longer exist. Instead, the researchers argue that mental ill-being is now highest among younger adults and steadily declines with age – a striking reversal of historical trends.
The researchers analysed data from more than 10 million adults in the United States and over 40,000 households in the United Kingdom. Their findings showed no evidence of the traditional U-shaped wellbeing curve. Rather than peaking in midlife, mental distress was most pronounced among younger people, with wellbeing improving progressively through adulthood.
This shift appears to be driven not by improved midlife wellbeing, but by a significant deterioration in the mental health of younger generations. The authors describe this as a “huge change from the past” and warn that it points to a serious and growing mental health crisis among the young.
While the exact causes remain uncertain, the study outlines several possible contributors. These include the long-term economic fallout of the Great Recession, particularly weak job prospects and wage stagnation for younger workers; underfunded mental health services; the psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic; and the rise of smartphones and social media. Increased exposure to curated online lives, the researchers suggest, may intensify social comparison and dissatisfaction in ways similar to perceived pay inequality in the workplace.
The authors stress that further research is needed to fully understand what is driving this shift. But their conclusion is clear: the classic midlife crisis may be fading, not because life gets easier in midlife, but because the burden of poor mental health has moved earlier. The pressing question now is how societies respond to a sustained decline in youth wellbeing that shows little sign of reversing.
