Despair Among the Young: A Shift in the Age-Despair Profile in the US

Research spanning 1993-2023 across multiple US surveys reveals a significant shift in the relationship between age and mental despair. Previously, despair followed a hump-shaped curve, peaking in middle age. However, a recent rise in despair among young people has reversed this trend, leading to a monotonic decline in despair with age. This trend differs by labor market status; the hump-shaped curve persists among the unemployed and those unable to work, while homemakers, students, and retirees show a relatively flat relationship. The study concludes that rising despair among young workers is the primary driver of this change.