The chapter delves into the importance of childhood and adolescent wellbeing in shaping adult life outcomes and quality of life. It discusses a study tracking American youth, indicating that wellbeing during adolescence significantly predicts future earnings and overall satisfaction, irrespective of socioeconomic factors. Moreover, it explores the concerning trend of decreasing happiness in youth in the US compared to adults, signaling a shift in the traditional U-shaped curve of wellbeing.
The US is sliding down the world happiness rankings - but it's the unhappiness of young people that's really dragging down the average. What has happened to make Gen Z so sad? And what can be done to turn the situation around?
Jan-Emmanuel De Neve (director of Oxford University’s Wellbeing Research Centre) has been analyzing the figures for the World Happiness Report. He offers advice to young people and parents, and looks at what happy young Lithuanians can teach the rest of the world.
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