Global Shift: The Disappearance of the 'Unhappiness Hump' in Aging

Recent research indicates that the long-observed 'unhappiness hump'—a phenomenon where worry, stress, and depression increase during midlife and then decrease in older age—may no longer be evident worldwide. This change could be linked to declining mental health among younger populations rather than changes in older age groups. The study, led by David Blanchflower from Dartmouth College, analyzed extensive survey data from both the US and UK, including responses from over 10 million adults in the US spanning 1993 to 2024, and data from 40,000 UK households from 2009 through 2023. The findings reveal that the previously prominent mental health challenges in middle age have lessened, and overall, mental well-being appears to decline earlier in life, especially among young people, leading to the disappearance of the traditional happiness curve. Additional data from a global study involving nearly 2 million individuals across 44 countries, collected from 2020 to 2025, further supports the conclusion that the unhappiness hump has faded globally. Several factors may contribute to this phenomenon, including the long-term impacts of economic downturns like the Great Recession, insufficient mental health services, the psychological effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, and increased social media consumption. The authors emphasize that while the reasons remain under investigation, this shift highlights a pressing mental health crisis among young people that demands attention. These insights challenge previous assumptions about age-related mental well-being and underscore the need for targeted interventions to support vulnerable populations.