The National Post reports in its Saturday, May 2, edition that new research from the University of Alberta indicates that Canada's housing crisis is negatively impacting life satisfaction among young adults, with one in five experiencing shelter insecurity. The Post's Ellie Hutchings writes that the findings suggest that the happiness crisis among young Canadians largely stems from economic issues, as the study tracked declining well-being among 20 to 34-year-olds in relation to housing affordability, living standards, job climate, and food and shelter insecurity.
The Gallup Poll uses the Cantril Ladder to measure life satisfaction, asking respondents to rate their lives on a scale from the worst possible (lowest rung) to the best possible (highest rung).
The scores for young Canadians recorded between 2008 and 2025 paint a steep decline in life satisfaction, as well as a widening happiness gap between those aged 20 to 34 and those over 65.
Economic stressors, particularly housing affordability, significantly impact young adults' life evaluations, accounting for nearly half of their decline. From 2023 to 2025, about one in five Canadians aged 20 to 34 experienced shelter insecurity, compared with one in 13 seniors.
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