Jan-Emmanuel De Neve from Oxford University's Wellbeing Research Centre discusses why young people in America are becoming unhappier and offers solutions. He talks about societal pressures, the influence of social media, and the importance of balancing technology with human connections. De Neve also explores the impact of teaching happiness skills to young individuals to improve their overall well-being.
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Quick takeaways
Mental health during childhood and adolescence significantly influences future life outcomes and adult satisfaction.
Growing social media use, inequalities, and political polarization contribute to the declining well-being of young people in North America.
Deep dives
Jan Danev's Research on Youth Well-being
Jan Danev, a professor of economics and behavioral science at the University of Oxford, emphasizes the importance of studying childhood and adolescent well-being. By analyzing data sets like Children's Worlds and Gallup World Poll, Danev highlights that mental health during these stages is crucial, predicting life outcomes and adult life satisfaction. Research shows that adolescent well-being significantly impacts future earnings, proving the importance of mental health from a young age.
Youth Happiness Trends in North America
Reports indicate a concerning trend in North America, particularly the United States, where youth below 30 are experiencing decreasing well-being levels. This contrasts with the typical U-shaped relationship between age and happiness seen globally. Factors like social media use, growing inequalities, and political polarization contribute to this trend, leading to lower youth well-being compared to adults.
Global Youth Well-being Disparities
While North America faces a decline in youth well-being, regions like Sub-Saharan Africa, Eastern Europe, and Asia show an improvement. Central and Eastern European countries, benefiting from EU memberships and wealth redistribution, prioritize youth well-being with successful initiatives like introducing life skills courses. This highlights the significance of social and economic factors in shaping youth happiness.
Parental and Policy Action for Youth Well-being
Parents are advised to understand the complexities faced by youth and engage in open communication, recognizing societal pressures and technologies impacting their well-being. Policies promoting holistic education, like the B-Well program in Manchester, focus on life skills alongside academics to enhance student happiness and performance. Promoting social connections and positive news consumption are suggested strategies to combat negative trends in youth happiness.
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.