Middle aged people are struggling in the US more than ever

It seems that people born between the 1960s and 1970s are lonelier and more depressed than people of older generations. Their ability to remember things and their physical strength appears to be weaker than the generation before them which appears to be an unusual development as generally, humans are evolving to be more able at an older age than ever before. Wellbeing in other western countries seems to have improved but in America, wellbeing seems to be on the decline with age.

Research sought to compare the US with 16 other countries to explain and understand why trends in America differed to those seen in other countries. They concluded that the decline is because of working parents attempting to juggle family life, hobbies, and work without support systems in place. A major factor separating the US from Europe is the government support for families in the form of funded childcare hours and maternity leave. Alongside this, healthcare costs are a major stress in the US which means access to necessary healthcare can be limited and increasingly stressful on top of other life stresses. As a result, middle-aged parents are reporting higher stress and loneliness than other nations which all feed into general wellbeing.

Cultural differences, such as a lack of support systems and networks where family members may live in different states, means that individuals in the US cannot depend on family for help with childcare for example which can further exacerbate life and financial stresses. People in the US appear to move more frequently than people in other nations which will make it harder for people to create networks that they can rely on. In Europe, it appears that stronger social networks have helped to reduce the chances of middle-aged mental health challenges.

Cognitive health appears to be impacted too where middle-aged people are struggling more than ever with their memory in the US. Long-term stress and higher rates of cardiovascular risks appear to be causing cognitive issues such as a decline in recalled episodic memories such as life experiences.

It is argued that the government in the US need to make some serious policy changes to support working parents in America to support their individual efforts in maintaining their mental health into older age.

Middle age is becoming a breaking point in the US

Questions

1. What kind of things could the government do to prevent the mental health challenges in middle-aged people in the US?
2. In what ways does health care affordability contribute to stress and declining wellbeing among middle-aged Americans?
3. Why might frequent moving and living far from extended family weaken social support in the US?