To mark the International Day of Happiness, Pawnation.com queried youngsters about their ability to stay joyful amidst issues like global warming, conflicts, escalating costs, and growing isolation.
Joana Meurkens had a challenging beginning to the new year when her landlord increased the rent on her Brooklyn apartment. This change compelled the 26-year-old actress and singer from New York to vacate the place and stay temporarily with both her boyfriend and her parents.
"Rental costs and grocery expenses have skyrocketed; eggs are nearly $1 each these days, and even public transportation has become pricier. That’s why I figured, why not relocate to cut down on spending?" she explains.
Increasing costs are merely one factor contributing to the growing discontent among younger Americans such as Joanna, who also face issues like conflicts, political divisiveness, isolation, and joblessness.
This year’s World Happiness Report reveals that young adulthood—a period previously regarded as one of the most joyful stages of life—has experienced a “disturbing shift.” The study indicates that individuals in their youth within Western Europe and North America currently exhibit “the least happiness” compared to other age demographics.
Published annually on March 20th to coincide with the United Nations’ International Day of Happiness, the World Happiness Report is a global study that ranks nations based on the happiness levels reported by their citizens.
This year, the United States has reached its least favorable ranking yet. Placed at number 24, it lost its spot among the top 20 nations last year. Currently, Germany holds the 22nd rank, with the UK following closely behind at 23rd place.
"If we focus solely on young people, the United States wouldn’t rank among the top 60 countries,” says Jan-Emmanuel De Neve, a researcher from Oxford University’s Wellbeing Research Centre involved in the study, speaking with Pawonation.com.
Protests as an innovative way for communal assembly
Joana isn’t shocked by these outcomes. Over the last two years, she explains, expenses have surged considerably higher than before. Additionally, both finding employment and securing stable work have become formidable challenges for her and others her age; the rate of joblessness among youths is increasing, and recent political instability has caused many young individuals to feel disheartened.
Joana mentions that in New York, where she resides, young individuals have shifted from partying to protesting. She explains, “It seems like this is what people around my age focus on nowadays. Demonstrations occur frequently, leading to constant gatherings, which I believe is beneficial as it fosters a robust sense of community.”
The essence of community is vital for joy.
Neve notes that American young individuals are notably less content today due to growing feelings of isolation. He emphasizes that collective lifestyles, like having shared dinners and residing in homes with a minimum of four occupants, contribute positively to their overall happiness.
"Today’s young individuals are twice as prone to eating solo than they were twenty years back. It appears that habits have shifted; when observing my pupils, they tend to consume their food individually, engrossed in their smartphones. However, our statistics indicate unequivocally that those who partake in communal meals experience greater happiness," remarks De Neve.
The deterioration of social ties, as the data indicates, contributes to increased political polarization and alters voting patterns. He states, "Our findings reveal that individuals experiencing unhappiness tend to support anti-establishment parties."
Youth in crisis mode
During Joana's formative years, significant political changes occurred: "When Trump was initially elected president, I was still in my final year of high school," she recalls. "Afterward, the pandemic struck, forcing us all into remote learning, and on my 21st birthday, instead of going to a bar, we celebrated through Zoom parties."
Joana rates her personal contentment at 6 out of 10, which aligns closely with the U.S. average score of 6.7. She describes her existence as an ongoing state of "emergency mode."
In response to various crises, numerous individuals from Joanna’s age group resort to medications. A new research analyzing 221 million drug prescriptions for Americans between the ages of 12 and 25 reveals that there was an almost 64% rise in antidepressants prescribed during the pandemic period spanning from March 2020 to December 2022.
"Everyone seems to be on antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications these days," Joanna remarks.
Finns have been the happiest people for the eighth consecutive year.
About 7,000 kilometers away, the 33-year-old Finnish office worker named Lisa (whose real name isn’t revealed here) also shared Her comments on Pawonation.com regarding the 2025 World Happiness Report findings state: " Personally, I'm often somewhat astonished whenever I learn that Finland tops the charts for happiness, as it gets extremely gloomy during winters and everything tends to be quite costly here," she remarks.
Lisa resides in Helsinki and gives her life a score of 7, which aligns closely with Finland’s national average of 7.7. She explains, “I deduct an extra point due to my commute; it takes up 45 minutes each day just to get to work.” Lisa adds, “For Helsinki, this duration is rather lengthy.”
Over the past few years, the conflict between Russia and Ukraine has taken center stage. security threat To Finland. Despite this being an extra worry for the younger population, the subject remains quite taboo in the nation, remarks Lisa, as talking about the potential of war seems too frightening. The young lady wishes that Finland’s institutions can successfully preserve peace.
Welfare safety net
The typical household size in Finland falls under two individuals according to Pawonation.com. This statistical trend mirrors Lisa’s situation as she resides solo. Due to her demanding work schedule, she often dines alone since she lacks both the vigor and moments required for sharing meals with others, she shares.
At the same time, in Latin America and the Caribbean, the typical household consists of 3 to 5 members. As a result, this is also the area where sharing meals is most common. However, out of the top 20 countries listed in the World Happiness report, only two come from this region: Costa Rica and Mexico.
Even though Finnish society tends to be quite individualistic, its inhabitants report a high degree of contentment. This finding aligns with what wellbeing experts have noted about the significance of social connections.
"True happiness isn’t just about dining together or cohabiting; it’s a blend of various elements,” says De Neve. “When comparing Nordic nations with the U.S., both might have similar levels of affluence, yet in Scandinavia, income distribution tends to be far more equitable,” he notes.
The study indicates that Scandinavians exhibit higher levels of social trust compared to individuals in the United States. For instance, they believe that misplaced wallets would likely be returned. Additionally, while Scandinavian citizens can rely on their comprehensive welfare systems, many Americans frequently experience significant stress and worry about their future.
"Health insurance in the US is typically tied to work. So if you lose your job, you also lose your health insurance and that's how people can get into difficult situations," De Neve explains.
Well-being at the heart of governance
However, happiness isn’t solely an individual matter, according to De Neve. The evidence indicates that happiness significantly influences politics and economics; conversely, widespread unhappiness can result in increased political division, decreased productivity, and potentially pose a risk to democratic systems.
According to De Neve, the approach should be centered around placing happiness at the core of policymaking, drawing insights from nations that excel in this area, such as Denmark, Finland, Costa Rica, Slovenia, Lithuania, or Mexico.
He notes, 'The lessons are quite evident: the prosperity of communities relies on sustainable development that preserves our planet along with equitable distribution of riches.'
Edited by: Elizabeth Grenier
Author: Djamilia Prange de Oliveira
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