Midlife crisis appears to be disappearing, researchers say, and there's a sad reason

A 40-something suddenly buying a red Ferrari and trading in their partner for a younger one: it's the stereotypical midlife crisis. Yet, this phase of life seems to be rarer. A new study shows that the midlife crisis is disappearing, and the reason is rather sad.

Anyone can experience a midlife crisis; a period of self-reflection that occurs later in life. Those who experience this often look back on their youth with nostalgia. They feel unhappy and trapped in the monotony of work and responsibilities, and long for a change. Whether it's in their relationship, job, place of residence, or lifestyle, they yearn for a different life. The average age at which a midlife crisis occurs is 44.

Since 2008, several studies have shown a so-called U-shaped trend in well-being across the lifespan. People often feel happiest in childhood, after which their happiness gradually declines. A low point is observed around age 50, after which happiness increases again in old age.

This trend corresponds with the age at which many people experience a midlife crisis, during which their sense of happiness temporarily declines.

Researchers at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire were curious whether this trend still exists today and decided to investigate it in the United Kingdom and the United States. The research team surveyed more than 10 million adults in the US and 40,000 households in the UK.

To their great surprise, the "happiness dip" in middle age had disappeared, while a striking decline in the mental health of young people was observed. Although the reason for this decline is unclear, researchers believe it may be related to the impact of the credit crisis on young people 's job prospects.

Performance pressure may also play a role, Metro previously reported. According to Eveline Crone, professor of neurocognitive developmental psychology at Leiden University, performance pressure among young people has tripled in the past 20 years .

It could also be related to the mental health problems brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. "Much of the recent literature on the decline in mental health among young people has focused on the pandemic ," the researchers explained. "While this cannot explain the decline in mental health among young people in the period immediately following the financial crisis, it may have contributed to an increasing decline in young people's mental health."

Finally, the researchers suggest that the decline in well-being among young people may also be related to the rise of smartphones and social media .