Americans born in the 1960s and early 1970s face higher loneliness, depression, and physical declines than previous generations, a trend not seen in other wealthy countries. A new study highlights how weaker family policies, healthcare access, and rising inequality contribute to this U.S.-specific crisis. In Nordic Europe, midlife well-being has improved instead.
A study led by psychologist Frank J. Infurna of Arizona State University reveals that midlife in the United States has become a period of heightened strain for many. Analyzing survey data from 17 countries, researchers found that individuals born in the 1960s and early 1970s report elevated levels of loneliness and depression, alongside weakening physical strength and episodic memory, compared to earlier cohorts. These patterns contrast sharply with international peers; in Nordic Europe, for instance, midlife health and well-being measures have strengthened over time.
Infurna attributes this divergence to several structural factors. Since the early 2000s, European nations have boosted spending on family benefits, such as cash transfers for children, paid parental leave, and subsidized childcare—supports largely absent in the U.S., where such expenditures have stagnated. This gap intensifies during midlife, when adults often juggle careers, child-rearing, and elder care. Countries with robust family policies show lower loneliness rates and slower increases over generations, unlike the steady rise observed in America.
Healthcare affordability exacerbates the issue. Despite the U.S. leading wealthy nations in spending, high out-of-pocket costs limit access, deter preventive care, and fuel stress, anxiety, and debt. Income inequality, which has widened in the U.S. since the early 2000s while stabilizing elsewhere in Europe, correlates with poorer health outcomes and greater isolation among middle-aged adults. Cultural tendencies toward frequent moves and distance from extended family further erode social ties, compounded by wage stagnation and the Great Recession's lingering effects on wealth-building for later cohorts.
Even rising educational attainment fails to shield against these declines. "Education is becoming less protective against loneliness, memory decline, and depressive symptoms," Infurna noted, linking this to chronic stress, financial woes, and cardiovascular risks. The research, published in Current Directions in Psychological Science, urges bolstering social safety nets. "The real midlife crisis in America isn't about lifestyle choices or sports cars. It's about juggling work, finances, family, and health amid weakening social supports," Infurna said. Individual steps like fostering community can help, but systemic changes in policy are essential for broader resilience.
