A massive new study has confirmed what a lot of young adults already suspect: we’re not OK.
The Global Flourishing Study—a new study from a joint research project between Harvard and Baylor universities—measured a dozen indicators of flourishing, including happiness, mental and physical health, purpose, relationships, financial security and character in more than 200,000 people across 22 countries.
The study found that found that young adults report the lowest levels of well-being. That’s a big shift from what past studies showed, when young adults started off happy before dippin in midlife then bouncing back in older ages.
For today’s young adults, the curve is less “U-shaped” and more “we started low and stayed there until we retired.”
“Young people are not doing as well as they used to be,” lead researcher Tyler VanderWeele noted.
And while the causes are complex, they’re not exactly surprising: higher rates of mental health issues, economic instability, fewer close relationships, less community, and declining religious participation. Basically, we’re stressed, disconnected and trying to do life on hard mode.
The study found that flourishing was lowest among 18- to 24-year-olds, with each older age group scoring higher. Adults over 80 reported the highest overall scores.
Factors that made a major difference? Growing up with loving parents, feeling financially secure as a child, being in good physical and mental health early in life, and—here’s a big one—attending religious services regularly.
Adults who went to church weekly as kids reported higher well-being as adults. The same pattern held true for those who attend now: the more frequent the attendance, the better the scores. It’s not a magic fix, but the data suggests that spiritual habits, community and meaning matter a lot more than most of us give them credit for.
