For many years, the happiness curve followed a well-known trajectory: a peak in youth, a decline in midlife, then an increase after age 50. However, a recent study, published by the National Bureau of Economic Research and commissioned by the UN, reveals a different reality. It is no longer people in their forties who are going through the darkest period of their lives, but rather young adults aged 18 to 24.
A generation in crisis of well-being
The results of this study, carried out in six English-speaking countries (United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Ireland), are alarming: young adults report a plummeting level of life satisfaction, while their elders seem to be doing better. The researchers analyzed responses to questionnaires measuring well-being and general satisfaction.
At the same time, the situation in France is no more reassuring. According to a survey by the DREES (Directorate of Research, Studies, Evaluation and Statistics), one in four young people lives below the poverty line. This difficult economic context weighs heavily on the morale of young adults.
Antidepressants and mental disorders on the rise
The study not only observed a decline in happiness, it also revealed an explosion in mental disorders among young people. Between 2019 and 2023, the prescription of antidepressants increased by more than 60% among 12-25 year olds, according to a Health Insurance report published in July 2024.
This phenomenon is also confirmed by the High Authority of Health, which reports an increase in emergency hospitalizations for mood disorders and suicidal thoughts. In 2021, 20.8% of young adults aged 18 to 24 suffered from depression, compared to 11.7% in 2017.
Smartphones and social networks, the obvious culprits?
One of the avenues explored by researchers to explain this well-being crisis is the impact of social networks and smartphones. If the effect of social networks on mental health remains up for debate, one thing is certain: young women are particularly affected. The study indicates that they suffer more from anxiety, depression and loneliness than men. Strong social pressure, particularly on Instagram and TikTok, where appearance and perfection are constantly highlighted, is a factor of discomfort for young women.
A national plan for mental health in 2025
Faced with this emergency, France has made mental health the “Great National Cause” of 2025. The objective is to break taboos, strengthen prevention and improve access to care. One of the government’s flagship measures is the possibility for every French person to benefit from a free consultation with a psychologist every month, without a prescription, since January 1, 2025.