Why Young Adults in Sweden Are Struggling: Insights into Wellbeing Gaps Across Generations
Sweden is globally renowned for its thriving social welfare system and high quality of life. But beneath this polished exterior lies a significant and troubling disparity: young adults in Sweden report substantially lower life satisfaction and mental health compared to older generations. While older Swedes rank among the happiest globally, young people grapple with a growing sense of dissatisfaction, insecurity, and psychological distress, according to a new study conducted by leading universities including the Stockholm School of Economics, Lund University, and Harvard University. These findings, published in the International Journal of Wellbeing, cast a nuanced spotlight on Sweden’s generational wellbeing divide.
The Marked Generational Divide
The study reveals jarring statistics: young adults in Sweden experience twice the level of loneliness, three times the depressive symptoms, and seven times the level of anxiety compared to the oldest respondents. Furthermore, their sense of life satisfaction and meaning trails significantly behind older Swedes. Financial insecurity, a common source of stress globally, disproportionately affects young people in Sweden, amplifying their struggle in an otherwise affluent nation.
“Sweden is unique internationally because young adults report the lowest wellbeing of any age group, whereas in many other countries, it is the elderly who feel the loneliest,” notes Nora Hansson Bittár, lead author and PhD candidate at the Center for Wellbeing, Welfare, and Happiness. “This anomaly points to younger Swedes facing unprecedented pressures in life.”
Social isolation presents a particularly concerning trend. Despite Sweden’s digitally connected society, the phenomenon of loneliness appears pervasive among its youth. Social media may play a paradoxical role, fostering connections on the surface while intensifying feelings of isolation and inadequacy behind the scenes. For many young Swedes, the anticipated life milestones of stable employment, home ownership, and meaningful interpersonal connections appear increasingly out of reach.
The Social Media Effect and High Expectations
One of the more striking insights from the study is the optimism younger Swedes maintain toward their future. On average, young adults expect their life satisfaction to score 8.06 out of 10 within five years — well above today’s general averages. This optimism, however, isn’t without potential complications. According to Hansson Bittár, this disconnect between present struggles and future expectations might aggravate dissatisfaction in the short-term. Former Swedish Prime Minister Tage Erlander’s evocative warning about the “disappointment that follows rising expectations” seems particularly relevant here.
It’s not hard to see how social media exacerbates this problem. Platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat amplify societal pressure by portraying idealized versions of success, beauty, and happiness, creating benchmarks that are often unattainable. Notably, in a recent report in The Atlantic, Australian policymakers have begun testing social media bans in an attempt to counter such negative impacts. While the initiative is still in its early stages, the evidence from restrictive measures in other industries offers promise. Could Sweden benefit from a similar experiment? Experts suggest it might be worth exploring.
The Older Generation: Learning from Sweden’s Elders
At the other end of the generational spectrum, Sweden’s older population is thriving, with some of the highest life satisfaction ratings in the world. Unlike their younger counterparts, older Swedes generally experience lower levels of anxiety, secure financial circumstances, and fulfilling social connections. Analysts suggest that retirement security and strong family bonds play a critical role.
Sweden’s welfare system certainly bolsters this sentiment. Senior citizens benefit from robust healthcare, generous pensions, and an active aging culture that includes social clubs and community programs. Addressing young adults’ lack of belonging and financial uncertainty could involve adapting similar support mechanisms tailored to younger needs. While infrastructural support for youth remains strong in areas like education, housing affordability and employment opportunities have become pain points, creating a clear gap in resources and opportunities for flourishing lives among the younger demographic.
What’s Driving This Disparity?
Sweden’s paradox of thriving elders and troubled youth raises deeper questions. Beyond material wealth, broader societal and cultural factors appear to be influencing the trends. Nora Hansson Bittár suggests that economic stress — tied to sluggish wage growth and rising housing costs — is squeezing young Swedes particularly hard.
“When you couple financial insecurity with soaring expectations and social media pressures, it creates a perfect storm,” she explains. Indeed, other global phenomena observed in nations like the United States further illustrate this. Rising colorectal cancer rates among Americans under 50 — as reported by Business Insider and Scientific American — are linked to lifestyle and psychological stress, underscoring how modern stressors take both mental and physical tolls.
What can Swedish policymakers do? Nora believes a dual approach is necessary: rebalancing economic policies to reduce financial strain and funding mental health initiatives targeted specifically at younger populations. “The goal should not just be to meet immediate needs but to help reframe young people’s expectations for a fulfilling life,” she adds.
What Lies Ahead for Sweden’s Generations
The findings from this study highlight a critical challenge for Sweden — to address the wellbeing disparities between age groups while safeguarding the optimistic future that young people envision. Left unchecked, these young adults could carry their dissatisfaction into middle and later life, perpetuating the cycle of societal strain.
As other nations grapple with similar generational gaps, Sweden must serve as a case study for both prevention and solutions. Whether exploring restrictive social media reforms or improving economic resilience among young adults, the Scandinavian model of wellbeing is evolving. Policymakers, educators, and healthcare professionals alike must work collaboratively to close this generational gap.
For now, Sweden’s elders can serve as a guiding light for how to build sustainable happiness — one rooted not just in material security, but in a balanced sense of social connection, purpose, and belonging. How well Sweden can translate these lessons for its struggling younger generation will define its success in navigating this complex societal challenge.
