Why Are Europe’s Young Adults Struggling More With Mental Health Than Older Generations?
New global data suggests weak family bonds, early smartphone use and lifestyle changes are driving a generational decline
Young adults are reporting significantly poorer mental health outcomes than older generations, with the gap particularly pronounced in several European countries, according to new international research.
The findings come from a study conducted by Sapien Labs, which measures psychological and cognitive well-being using what it calls the Mind Health Quotient (MHQ). The index evaluates emotional regulation, social functioning, cognitive capacity and the ability to manage daily challenges. Researchers say the data suggests a generational decline that predates the COVID-19 pandemic but worsened during it.
Adults aged 55 and over have consistently scored close to 100 on the MHQ scale since 2019, a level researchers describe as typical for a functioning population. By contrast, those aged 18 to 34 recorded an average score of 36. According to the survey results, 41% of respondents in that younger age group reported experiencing significant mental health challenges.
The study draws on online survey responses collected across 84 countries in Asia, Africa, Europe and the Americas. While the research does not diagnose medical conditions, it assesses how individuals perceive their emotional stability, focus, relationships and resilience in everyday life.
European countries showed mixed results. Italy ranked highest among European nations, placing 20th overall. Finland ranked 40th, Portugal and Spain 46th, Belgium 52nd and France 58th. Ireland, Germany and the United Kingdom were among the lowest-performing European countries, ranking 70th, 71st and 81st respectively.
One of the more unexpected findings was that young adults in sub-Saharan Africa scored higher on average than their counterparts in wealthier countries including the United States, Canada, Japan and much of Western Europe. The report does not attribute this difference to a single cause but notes that economic development alone does not appear to correlate directly with stronger mental health outcomes among younger generations.
Researchers identified four main factors statistically associated with poorer scores among young adults: weaker family bonds, lower levels of self-reported spirituality, earlier access to smartphones and higher consumption of ultra-processed foods.
Participants who described distant or strained family relationships were nearly four times more likely to fall into the distressed or struggling categories compared with those who reported close family ties. The report states this as a correlation and does not claim a direct causal relationship.
Spirituality was also associated with higher MHQ scores. Respondents who reported a strong sense of connection to a higher purpose or spiritual belief system performed better on average than those who described themselves as not spiritual. Germany, the United Kingdom and Spain were among countries where young adults reported lower levels of spirituality.
The study further found that earlier smartphone use correlated with lower mental health scores later in life. Globally, members of Generation Z reported receiving their first smartphone at an average age of 14, while in Europe the average ranged between 12 and 13. Researchers describe this as an association and do not conclude that early smartphone exposure alone causes poorer outcomes.
Consumption of ultra-processed foods was also identified as a contributing factor. The report estimates that such dietary patterns may account for between 15% and 30% of the overall mental health burden in young populations, though it acknowledges that multiple variables likely interact.
Despite increased public spending on mental health services and expanded awareness campaigns in many developed countries, the study concludes that measurable improvements among young adults have not materialised. The authors argue that focusing primarily on treatment may be insufficient without addressing broader social and environmental influences.
The findings are likely to intensify debate across Europe over the long-term impact of digital technology, changing family structures and lifestyle shifts on younger generations. Researchers say further investigation will be required to clarify causation, but the generational pattern, they note, has remained consistent across several years of data collection.
For policymakers, the data presents a challenge: while older populations appear relatively stable, younger adults report growing difficulty coping with everyday demands — a trend that, if sustained, could have broader social and economic implications in the decades ahead.
Written by Sandy van Dongen