Young people are in the midst of a midlife crisis as they are more likely to be in the toughest years of their life, a study has found.

The study found that in six English-speaking countries worldwide a booming mental health crisis meant the youth were no longer one of the happiest generations.

Traditionally, happiness was considered to follow a U-shape – where young people have care-free experiences, then a tougher middle age and a more comfortable later life.

But experts say the course of happiness over our lifetime has changed and wellbeing now rises steadily with age instead. 

The young are now experiencing a bad case of an early midlife crisis – where peak misery starts as early as 18.

‘The U-shape in wellbeing by age that used to exist in these countries is now gone, replaced by a crisis in wellbeing among the young,’ according to the paper published by the US National Bureau of Economic Research. 

Participants surveyed across the US, UK, Ireland, Australia, Canada and New Zealand, found that life satisfaction and happiness had fallen among young people over the past decade, and especially among young women.

The prevalent use of smart phones and social media in young people suggests this mental health crisis coincided with increasing internet use.

Young people are in the midst of a midlife crisis as they are more likely to be in the toughest years of their life, a study has found

The study found that in six English-speaking countries worldwide a booming mental health crisis meant the youth were no longer one of the happiest generations

The study suggested the rise in technology meant the youth aren’t going out as much, socialising or having sex, which has impacting overall happiness. 

David Blanchflower, the lead academic (with Jean Twenge) and former Bank of England policymaker, told the Guardian there had been a sharp drop in wellbeing in the US and the UK, and pointed to the growth of social media, cyberbullying and body shaming online.

‘The young have become isolated. It’s also not so much that people are sitting there on the phone, it’s what they’re not doing. They’re not going out as much; playing with their friends, interacting with others, or having as much sex.’

He added: ‘I don’t think there is any doubt you have an absolute global crisis. Young people are in deep disarray and trouble. And the question is what do we do about it? And we don’t know.’

Other studies have drawn links between the youth mental health crisis and, unregulated social media, unstable employment and the climate crisis. 

Young people are also increasingly like to be outside the jobs market with mental health conditions.