The traditional notion that youth is the happiest time of our lives has been dramatically upended, according to groundbreaking research commissioned by the United Nations. The study, led by renowned academics Jean Twenge and David Blanchflower, reveals a troubling shift in happiness patterns across generations, with young people now reporting significantly lower levels of wellbeing than older age groups.
“I don’t think there is any doubt you have an absolute global crisis. Young people are in deep disarray and trouble. And the question is what do we do about it? And we don’t know.” – David Blanchflower
The Vanishing U-Shape of Happiness
For decades, happiness throughout life followed a predictable U-shaped pattern – high during youth, dipping in middle age, then rising again in later years. As Blanchflower explains, “Basically we found that people were at their unhappiest in middle age. You’re happy when you’re young, and you’re happy when you’re old—that’s the U shape”.
However, this pattern has now disappeared in many developed nations, replaced by a steady upward slope where happiness consistently increases with age. The implications are profound, forcing us to “rethink that entire thought” about the lifecycle of human happiness.
Australia in the Global Context
Australia is among the English-speaking countries experiencing this concerning trend, alongside the United States, Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. The decline in youth happiness has been observed across these nations, with particularly worrying indicators among young Australians.
While initially researchers thought this trend might be related to major events like the COVID-19 pandemic or the 2008 financial crisis, deeper analysis revealed these were merely accelerating pre-existing patterns. As Blanchflower noted, “COVID was just extending the trend that had already been there”.
The Consequences
The implications of this crisis extend far beyond individual suffering. Blanchflower warns that “this may end up being a lost generation” with “vast social and economic consequences”. These include:
- Young people withdrawing from education
- Reduced workforce participation
- Impacts on school performance
- Potential effects on global productivity
The UN has recognised this as “a huge global crisis” and commissioned further research to identify whether the phenomenon extends to other regions worldwide.
References
- Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. (2023). Youth mental health statistics.
- Australian Youth Barometer. (2024). Mental health and financial challenges facing young Australians.
- Mission Australia Youth Survey. (2024). Youth happiness and wellbeing trends in Australia.
- The Guardian. (2025, March 3). Youth mental health crisis: Happiness declining among young people in UK, US and Australia, UN report finds. The Guardian.
- Twenge, J., & Blanchflower, D. G. (2025, February). Declining life satisfaction and happiness among young adults in six English-speaking countries (NBER Working Paper No. w33490). Social Science Research Network.
- World Happiness Report. (2025). Youth happiness trends across developed nations. United Nations.
