The Disheartening Reality:
Younger individuals express less contentment compared to older demographics. I felt a sense of sadness, though not entirely surprised, upon learning that the United States had slipped from the 15th to the 23rd position in the latest World Happiness Report. What's more concerning is the revelation that individuals aged 15-24 are experiencing lower levels of happiness compared to their older counterparts. Youth is typically associated with hope, energy, opportunity, camaraderie, and first love. Meanwhile, happiness levels have seen an increase across all age groups in Central and Eastern Europe. So, what factors are contributing to the record-low levels of contentment among American youth?
One contributing factor is the escalating issue of adolescent mistreatment. I addressed this matter back in 2016, albeit with limited reception. Unfortunately, part of this escalation is intertwined with the opioid crisis and other addiction-related issues. In a post from 2017, I highlighted that drug overdoses were the leading cause of death among individuals under 50. Six years prior, I discussed the fundamental needs of children in parenting. However, despite its significance, that post didn't garner much attention.
Over time, this paints a troubling picture. Instances of child abuse, neglect, and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have been on the rise.
The condition of youth in America is deteriorating. It's concerning.
It's no wonder that youth happiness scores have plummeted. The pandemic and the proliferation of technology have only exacerbated the growing disparity, leading to increased mistreatment and diminished quality of life for younger individuals.
The Amplifying Impact of Trauma
I recently came across an online opinion piece suggesting that individuals in dire situations exhibit greater resilience and that many young people in America have it too easy and complain excessively.
The challenge with trauma is that it can be more manageable for someone who had a relatively stable infancy and childhood. The trauma they endured may have triggered heightened stress responses when raising their own child. Consequently, their child might develop an even higher stress response coupled with mental health issues like depression and anxiety. Moreover, the child may be more prone to adopting a wider range of maladaptive coping mechanisms such as smoking, drinking, consuming unhealthy foods, or excessive screen time.
These reactions can be observed in how a child's brain develops under stress. Prolonged stress can flood the child's brain with excessive cortisol (the stress hormone), causing cortisol receptors to shut down. This means the child is inundated with stress hormones that have nowhere to go. An overactive nervous system can be established, contributing to why individuals with higher levels of adverse experiences in childhood have shorter life expectancies, a higher prevalence of illnesses, and elevated rates of mental health issues. It also sheds light on how each successive generation may fare worse as they inherit diminished stress resilience along with more adverse experiences.
Furthermore, support systems may dwindle when larger segments of the population around them suffer. Depression, anxiety, and maladaptive coping strategies such as drugs, alcohol, risky sexual behavior, and unhealthy relationships can become the new norm, perpetuating high levels of stress and suffering.
There Is Hope
Not only are we endowed with cognitive flexibility and the ability to recover from trauma and adverse childhood experiences, but younger individuals are also more open to addressing mental health concerns. They are unafraid to discuss anxiety, depression, and suicide.
Moreover, younger individuals are more inclined towards civil rights, authenticity, and advocating for a balanced quality of life in the workplace.
This inclination towards mental health and social issues indicates that younger individuals may be more inclined to prioritize addressing the needs of their children and striving for a brighter future.
It also makes me wonder if the decline in happiness marks the progress in the overall mental health journey of young people. For instance, I often advise clients that they may feel worse before they feel better when beginning therapy. Certainly! This happens because they're facing tough memories and actively working towards healing in more effective ways.
I believe that younger individuals in the U.S. are engaging in this courageous deep healing work and while currently more distressed will emerge stronger and genuinely happier over time. Nevertheless, this serves as a reminder for all of us. May we collectively strive to create a more nurturing environment that is physically and mentally safe for all individuals with special attention to our children's well-being.