Young Kenyan adults demonstrate resilient mental health amid global decline, study shows
Decline is far less among several African countries where mental wellbeing scores are higher
Kenyan young adults are generally in a better mental state compared to their peers in high-income nations, where youth mental wellbeing has been in steep decline since the COVID-19 pandemic.
This is revealed by the Mental State of the World 2024 Report compiled by Sapien Labs, a global leader in mental health research.
The report, which analysed over one million responses from internet enabled populations in 76 countries, across all continents, presents a concerning reality as mental health among 18- to 34-year-olds in Western nations has dropped sharply since 2019, with no signs of recovery.
Decline is far less among several African countries where mental wellbeing scores are higher. Tanzania ranks first in Africa and the highest globally. Younger adults in Nigeria and Kenya also score relatively well, with Mental Health Quotient (MHQ) scores above 60 and in the 50-60 range, respectively, indicating better mental health outcomes compared to many Western nations.
Tara Thiagarajan, Founder and Chief Scientist at Sapien Labs, commented “Africa holds a unique advantage in youth mental health, an asset that must be actively protected as the continent undergoes rapid technological and economic shifts. With Africa’s youthful population set to play a key role in the global economy in the coming decades, governments must take proactive steps to ensure that urbanization, digital adoption and evolving lifestyles do not erode the mental resilience that is now setting African youth apart from the rest of the world.”
“For Africa, this presents both an opportunity and a challenge to learn from global trends and act now to preserve the mental resilience of its young people.”
However, it is worth noting that the figures for African youth are still way below the average figures for older adults generally across the globe. South Africa is the only country surveyed in Africa that is aligned more with the West, with South African youth scoring between 30-40 MHQ, which is low, but still above poorly performing countries such as the UK, Ukraine and New Zealand.
The report is not based on indicators of happiness, nor it is monitoring anxiety and depression. The data collected using the Mind Health Quotient (MHQ) which measures all aspects of mental function: emotional, social and cognitive, shows that while older adults are doing well, a near majority of younger adults are experiencing functionally debilitating struggles or distress.
According to the report, older populations across the globe, ranked well with an average of 100 MHQ in populations of 55+ Countries that ranked high in older populations, with a score of over 110 include countries in Africa, Central and South America, South East Asia and Israel and the UAE. Nigeria was ranked high at 110 plus and Kenya was in the second group of countries with scores between 100 and 110. In stark contrast to older adults, the average MHQ of younger Internet-enabled adults under age 35, ranges from 5 to 71 across 79 countries with an average globally of just 38, over 60 points lower than those aged 55 plus.
Many under 35’s are merely enduring life with 41 per cent classified as distressed or struggling, such as experiencing an average of five or more clinical level symptoms of mental distress that significantly impair their ability to navigate their lives and function productively. Across all countries, younger adults have diminished Mind Health relative to older generations. In only 15 out of 79 countries did their average MHQ exceed 50 and just one country – Tanzania, had an average MHQ above 65 – equivalent to the lowest country average among those aged 55+.
Findings from the report further suggest that stronger community and family ties, later exposure to smartphones, and more face-to-face social interactions may contribute to these varying scores. These factors, which help build emotional resilience, have been declining in high-income nations over the past decade, where digital connectivity and individualism have replaced traditional social structures. However, as Africa urbanises and adopts more technology, researchers warn that these benefits could fade if not protected, leading to a decline in young people’s mental well-being across the continent.
