The many causes of Americans’ growing unhappiness
American unhappiness has continued to rise for decades and has accelerated in recent years. What’s the cause behind that trend, and what can be done to stop it?
American unhappiness rising
The World Happiness Report shows that Americans’ general happiness has declined significantly since the 1980s and has been trending downward for the last decade.
The U.S. ranked 23rd in the report, after dropping out of the top 20 for the first time last year.
“The answer is all around us,” Matthew Levendusky, professor of political science at the University of Pennsylvania, told Straight Arrow News. “We can think about trends in the economy, politics, and society more broadly that contribute to this problem.”
That report listed several factors contributing to the rise in unhappiness, including:
- Declines in social capital and support
- Increases in obesity and substance abuse
- Shifts in how Americans spend their leisure time
A report from The Financial Times shows a significant rise in people spending time alone, especially among young people, after the COVID-19 pandemic.
“If you’re sitting at home alone, that’s not a recipe for a deep and fulfilling life or much happiness,” Levendusky said.
Happiness is especially waning for Americans under 30. The World Happiness Report found Americans aged 60 and up ranked tenth in happiness, whereas those under 30 ranked 62nd.
The decrease in young Americans’ happiness coincides with a rise in digital and social media usage. The report found that adolescents who spend more time on electronic devices are less happy.
Economic causes
One factor repeatedly brought up is the cost of living.
“Prices have increased dramatically in the past five years, and not just groceries, but insurance, rent, and so forth,” Levendusky said. “Even little things have gotten much more expensive in recent years — if you don’t believe me, look at what it now costs to spend a few days with your family at Disney World or another destination theme park.”
In 1995, the cost to get into Disney was $37, and it’s now a minimum of $119.
Finland, Denmark and Iceland ranked in the top three in the last happiness report.
“In these Nordic Scandinavian countries, a rising tide lifts all boats, so the levels of economic inequality are much less, and that reflects in well-being as well,” Jan-Emmanuel De Neve, professor of economics at the University of Oxford, leader of the Wellbeing Research Centre and editor of the World Happiness Report, told Fortune. “In Finland, most people will rate [their happiness] as seven or an eight, whereas if you look at the distribution of well-being in the States, there’s a lot of 10s out there, but there’s a lot of ones as well.”
Income inequality has skyrocketed in America, according to a new Oxfam report.
“The data confirms what people across our nation already know instinctively: the new American oligarchy is here,” Abby Maxman, president and CEO of Oxfam America, told Forbes. “Billionaires and mega-corporations are booming while working families struggle to afford housing, healthcare, and groceries.”
A poll by Ipsos found that 61% of Americans believe the cost of living is headed in the wrong direction, and 59% are concerned about inflation.
“President Trump won in 2024 in no small part by emphasizing cost-of-living issues, and that was also a theme for the Democrats who won [last week] as well,” Levendusky said. “Voters are angry about this, and it’s not hard to see why.”
Politics
When it comes to politics, neither party is making the country happy.
A Gallup poll shows that neither party could even break 50% when people were asked which party is better at keeping the country prosperous.
That poll showed Republicans had a 40% favorability rating, while Democrats had a 37% rating.
“It’s hard to blame ordinary Americans for feeling frustrated with the government, regardless of their partisan affiliation,” Levendusky said.
America is also more divided than ever.
Another Gallup poll shows that a record-high 80% of Americans believe the country is deeply divided over important issues. That’s up 10% in the last two decades.
“What, exactly, has Congress done to address this issue?” Levendusky said. “Even as someone who devotes his days to following these issues, I could not give you a clear answer.”
What’s the solution?
According to the World Happiness Report, people, especially young people, are happier when they’re interacting with other people.
Positive relationships of any kind are one of the most important factors in overall happiness, according to an 85-year Harvard study.
“I can think of small-scale things that would help (encouraging people to engage more in their community, to deepen social bonds, etc.), but the broader structural problems will remain,” Levendusky said.
For younger people, some experts pointed to limiting social media exposure, but it’s not because social media makes them unhappy. It reveals the bigger societal issues that are a concern.“Lonely kids turning to social media to cope — that is a very different narrative from social media is making them lonely and ruining their lives,” Jeffrey Hall, a communications professor at the University of Kansas, told CNBC.
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Ella Rae Greene, Editor In Chief
