Overview
- Young Indians aged 18–34 scored 33 on the Mind Health Quotient, ranking 60th of 84 countries, while those 55+ scored about 96 and ranked 49th.
- The findings draw on 78,093 internet‑enabled, literate respondents in India and use an MHQ built from 47 emotional, social, cognitive and physical capacities.
- Researchers report a multi‑year decline in core mental functioning among young adults measured since 2019, with no rebound after the pandemic years.
- The report links mind health differences to family bonds, spirituality, ultra‑processed food use and earlier smartphone exposure, with India’s youth reporting 44% UPF consumption and first phones at 16.5 years on average.
- Sapien Labs warns lower MHQ is tied to weaker productivity and notes falling ‘Social Self’ scores correlate with higher violent‑crime rates, as youth rank comparatively worse in many richer nations and several Sub‑Saharan African countries fare better.