New Delhi: Young Americans are becoming less positive about their lives, with financial pressures, loneliness, depression and fears about jobs weighing on them.
A new survey by Gallup found that only 44 per cent of Americans aged 18 to 29 were “thriving” in 2026, down sharply from 64 per cent in 2010.
Gallup defines “thriving” as rating one’s current life at least seven out of 10 and expecting one’s life five years from now to be at least eight out of 10.
A sharp decline in recent years
The decline has become particularly sharp in recent years. In 2019, 57 per cent of young adults were classified as thriving. That fell to 39 per cent during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 before recovering to 51 per cent in 2023. The figure has since fallen again.
Gallup’s findings point to several factors behind the decline, with mental health emerging as a major concern. According to a well-being index metric, the share of Americans under 30 receiving treatment for depression rose from 13 per cent in 2017 to 26.7 percent in 2025.
Nearly three in 10 young adults also reported experiencing significant loneliness daily.
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Money and jobs add to the anxiety
Financial pressures are another major concern. Rising housing costs are making it harder for young people to afford homes.
A separate Pew Research Center survey found that 87 per cent of Americans believe buying a home is harder for young people today than it was for earlier generations. 64 per cent also said finding a job has become harder.
Further, growing anxiety around artificial intelligence is adding to concerns about employment. Young people are worried that AI could reduce the number of jobs available to them.
Gallup found that younger Americans had become unusually pessimistic about the job market. In 2025, only 43 per cent of those aged 15 to 34 said that it was a good time to find a job locally, a 21 per cent decline compared to those aged 55 and older.
Older Americans report a more positive outlook
The contrast with older Americans is striking. 53 per cent of Americans aged 65 and above were classified as thriving in 2026, compared with 38 per cent in 2008.
Gallup suggests that greater financial security and accumulated wealth may be helping older Americans feel more secure about their lives.
The findings suggest that for many young Americans, adulthood is increasingly being associated not just with ambition, but also with financial uncertainty, job anxiety and loneliness.
Edited by Maryam Hassan