The new midlife crisis: Mental and cognitive health in middle-aged Americans is declining.

The article focuses on research examining increasing loneliness, depression, and memory problems among middle-aged Americans (ages 40-65) compared to previous generations and peer nations. Psychology professor Frank Infurna and colleagues found these mental health challenges are more pronounced in the United States, potentially due to factors such as changing intergenerational relationships, financial vulnerabilities, and limited social safety nets. Infurna proposes a multi-level framework linking national policies, community environments, and individual circumstances to midlife well-being, highlighting that countries with stronger family benefits tend to have lower loneliness levels. The research underscores the importance of cross-national comparisons to inform policies that could alleviate midlife mental health struggles. [Extracted from the article]