Gen Z: The Unhappiest Generation? Youth Plunged into Despair

New research indicates that Gen Z is experiencing greater unhappiness compared to other age groups, overturning the traditional 'U-curve' of happiness. According to a study published in PLOS ONE, young people worldwide are reporting higher levels of unhappiness.

The study, based on data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), found that while unhappiness peaked in middle age between 2009 and 2018, from 2019 to 2024, despair among young people increased significantly. Economists David Blanchflower, Alex Bryson, and Xiaowei Xu are the authors of the study.

The reasons for this increased unhappiness are not fully understood. One possible explanation is the state of the labor market, particularly for less educated young Americans. However, this explanation does not cover all countries, as in some Southern European countries, young people's life satisfaction has increased due to decreased unemployment.

Smartphone and social network use has also been suggested as a factor, but research has not reached definitive conclusions regarding the causal relationship between social media use and young people's mental health.