Economist: The middle-aged are no longer the most miserable

Economist: The middle-aged are no longer the most miserable

The graph shows the percentage of people of each generation who are unhappy at a particular age.  The article is based on this research about the decline in mental health of the young, which is based on an annual survey conducted by the CDC.

It makes sense that Gen Z would be the most unhappy.

More specifically, the research addresses the amount of dread experienced at each year of life.

I considered generating an Excel spreadsheet and graph of the dread in my life, but it seemed like bragging.  I wasn’t sentient until I was 10 or 12 years old.  Seriously, my autistic friend Sparky, is more aware than I was.  After that, I was mostly bored until I got my drivers license.  After that, it was series of novel experiences, uninformed decisions and doing my best to navigate the circumstances that left me generally free of despair at every age.  I have been stoic and lucky.

Back to the graph.  Ever since the 9/11 attack, the news media has presented a steady stream of existential dangers.  Prior to that, there was always a global warming, government spending and American troops deployed somewhere, but none of that was urgent.

For instance, when Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, it was time to stop dreading Covid.

For Gen Z, it’s been like that their entire lives. 

When the Silent Generation were young, the US had faced and triumphed over the Axis powers in an actual existential threat.  Other countries were in WW II longer and suffered more, but the US was involved at a distance and made all the difference.  They grew up with the US being on top of the world.  It makes sense they didn’t experience much dread.