Gen Z Unhappier Than Boomers Were At Same Age, New Study

Young people are now unhappier than those in middle age, a new study has found.

For decades, researchers noted the midlife "unhappiness hump"—whereby people begin young adulthood relatively happy, which declines into middle age as feelings of despair peak around age 50. Happiness then increases again into retirement.

However, Gen Z is so unhappy that they have upturned that pattern, the global study found.

Why it Matters

The research raises concerns about the well-being of Gen Z, which includes those aged roughly from 12 to 28, who were found to be more prone to feelings of despair and anxiety than other generations at the same age.

CDC data found that poor mental health had risen among young men from 2.5 percent in 1993 to 6.6 percent in 2024. Young women's self-reported poor menta