Study: Middle-aged Americans face rising loneliness, depression, and memory decline
10 reported
A new international study led by Arizona State University psychologist Frank J. Infurna finds that middle-aged Americans are lonelier, more depressed, and experiencing worse memory and health than earlier generations. The research, published in Current Directions in Psychological Science, examined survey data from 17 countries and found that this trend is not occurring to the same extent in many other wealthy nations, particularly in Nordic Europe. The study points to several factors that may explain the differences, including weaker family support policies, higher health care costs, growing income inequality, and cultural factors such as frequent moves and distance from family. Researchers also found that despite higher educational attainment, middle-aged Americans showed declines in episodic memory, a pattern not seen in most comparable countries. The authors stress that these outcomes are not inevitable and suggest that both personal resources and broader policy changes could help address the underlying causes.
What’s reported
People born in the 1960s and early 1970s report higher levels of loneliness and depression, along with poorer memory and reduced physical strength compared with previous generations.
The trend is not happening to the same extent in many other wealthy countries, particularly in Nordic Europe.
Since the early 2000s, European nations have increased spending on family benefits, while U.S. spending has remained largely unchanged.
Adults in countries with stronger family support systems reported lower levels of loneliness and experienced smaller increases in loneliness over time.
The United States spends more on health care than any other wealthy country, but Americans often face greater challenges with access and affordability.
Since the early 2000s, income inequality has increased in the United States while remaining stable or declining in much of Europe.
Americans are more likely to move frequently and live farther away from family members.
More recent groups of middle-aged Americans have accumulated less wealth and face greater financial insecurity.
Despite higher levels of educational attainment, middle-aged Americans showed declines in episodic memory.
The study was published in Current Directions in Psychological Science and led by Frank J. Infurna of Arizona State University.
Key figures
Frank J. Infurna, psychologist, Arizona State University
Yesenia Cruz-Carrillo, co-author
Nutifafa E. Y. Dey, co-author
Markus Wettstein, co-author
Margie E. Lachman, co-author
Denis Gerstorf, co-author
Sources: ScienceDaily
