You've probably heard that life gets a little easier after 50.
That the worries of middle age give way to something more settled. For a long time, the research seemed to back that up.
That picture no longer holds. A worldwide survey of nearly 54,000 people across 92 countries, published in Social Indicators Research, found that young adults now report the lowest mental well-being of any age group.
The study was led by researchers at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health.
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People in 92 countries answered short questions about energy, calm, meaning, relationships and money between June and August 2025.
The traditional age pattern just flipped
For years, global well-being data showed a U-shape. People reported being happiest when young and old, and most stressed in middle age. In this new dataset, that curve did not appear.
Instead, young adults scored lowest on measures of vitality, emotional stability and resilience. Scores then rose steadily with age. Retirees now score about as well as working adults and students, which was not the case in 2012.
On a short mental health screening, only 14.7 percent of adults aged 18 to 25 showed no signs of depression or anxiety. Across all adults, the figure was 23.6 percent.
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What may be weighing on younger adults
The researchers point to a mix of pressures. Economic instability, worry about jobs being lost to artificial intelligence, burnout and the lingering effects of the pandemic all appear to be reshaping how young people feel about their lives.
The shift lines up with earlier research suggesting being a teenager today is measurably harder than it was a generation ago.
Lead author Kai Ruggeri, professor of health policy and management at Columbia, called the findings "a flashing red light." He said entire populations "are already struggling and feel their resilience is diminished here and now, not only a concern for an uncertain future."
He said leaders can no longer rely on vague commitments to mental health, and must act on jobs, burnout and access to care.
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What was tied to better scores
Some patterns were steady across every age group. Employment and higher income were linked to better well-being. Each step up in education was tied to higher scores too.
People in hybrid work arrangements fared better than those working fully remote. Larger households also reported higher well-being, which hints that in-person contact still matters.
If low mood or anxiety lasts more than a couple of weeks, a doctor is a sensible first stop.
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This article is made and published by Ida-Marie Palm Varbæk, who may have used AI in the preparation.