A new study published in the Journal of Gerontology reveals that baby boomers (born in the late 1940s and 1950s) are living longer but experiencing more health problems, such as obesity, disability, and chronic disease, compared to earlier generations. An analysis of health data from 114,526 people across England, Europe, and the US between 2004 and 2018 showed worsening health as baby boomers age, with conditions like cancer, lung disease, and diabetes affecting them more frequently.

Despite advances in medical treatments, improvements in disability and mobility rates have stalled or even reversed in some regions. Researchers suggest factors like rising obesity and reduced physical activity contribute to this trend, though more study is needed. They emphasize that better understanding these generational health differences can help develop strategies to address them. Unfortunately, they also overlook the field of Interpersonal Neurobiology (IPNB), which offers invaluable scientific information.

From an Interpersonal Neurobiology perspective, examining the domination hierarchy and mainstream culture offers valuable insights into the health challenges faced by baby boomers and younger generations. These structures shape the nervous system, relationships, and overall well-being in ways that can explain the “generational health drift” observed in the study. Key points to consider include:

Impact of Domination Hierarchies on the Nervous System:
Domination hierarchies—systems where power is unequally distributed and enforced through control—create chronic stress by fostering threat-based, survival-oriented states within individuals. These systems activate the fight-flight-freeze response, dysregulating the autonomic nervous system (ANS) over time and contributing to chronic health conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and obesity, as well as mental health issues and recurrent pain. In IPNB, safety and co-regulation are essential for health, but hierarchical systems undermine these by promoting competition, isolation, and disconnection rather than collaboration and mutual support.

Cultural stressors: As baby boomers have lived through a culture steeped in domination hierarchies—whether in workplaces, governments, or social structures—this has likely accumulated in their bodies as stress and dysregulation.
Health consequences: Being in constant states of powerlessness, overwork, or control suppresses immune function and leads to chronic health deterioration. The rise in diseases like obesity and diabetes may reflect the toll of living in a dominance-driven society.

Mainstream Culture and Individualism:
Mainstream Western culture has long emphasized individualism, material success, and self-reliance over community, connection, and interdependence. These values reinforce the dominance hierarchy by promoting personal achievement at the expense of relational well-being.

Loneliness and social disconnection: Baby boomers grew up in a culture where the nuclear family and career success were often prioritized over communal living and social cohesion. This isolation from extended social networks reduces opportunities for co-regulation, a vital aspect of nervous system health that IPNB highlights.
Stigma around vulnerability: Mainstream culture often stigmatizes vulnerability and emotional expression, particularly in hierarchical environments. The resulting suppression of emotions can lead to chronic stress and trauma, both of which negatively impact long-term health.

The Health Effects of Mainstream Competition and Consumerism:
Mainstream culture, with its consumerist and competitive tendencies, has led to lifestyle patterns that are detrimental to health:
Increased stress: A culture driven by competition for resources, status, and success has left many baby boomers—and younger generations—living in a perpetual state of performance pressure and insecurity. Constant comparison, overwork, and the demand for productivity push people into unhealthy lifestyles and disconnection from their relational needs.
Sedentary lifestyles and poor diets: The rise in obesity and chronic health conditions can be partially traced to a sedentary, consumer-driven culture where fast food and convenience are prioritized over well-being and active living. This cultural shift is reinforced by systems of domination that emphasize profit over public health.

Intergenerational Trauma in a Hierarchical System:
In a dominance hierarchy, trauma is often perpetuated across generations. Baby boomers, especially those raised in times of strict cultural norms, may have experienced harsh parenting, authoritarian school systems, or rigid societal expectations. These experiences lead to intergenerational trauma—unresolved stress and trauma passed down through families and societies—which affects the health of later generations.

Epigenetics: Stress and trauma responses can be passed down epigenetically, creating a legacy of dysregulation in the nervous systems of children and grandchildren. This could explain why younger generations are showing signs of worse health at earlier ages.
Systemic oppression: Many baby boomers lived through systemic inequalities (e.g., racial, gender, and economic hierarchies), which persist today. The constant stress of navigating unequal systems results in poor health outcomes that ripple through communities and across generations.

Solutions in Community and Egalitarian Structures:
IPNB suggests that egalitarian, community-focused environments can counteract the negative effects of domination hierarchies. By creating structures that emphasize collaboration, mutual support, and shared power, people can experience better nervous system regulation and health outcomes. Shifting away from individualistic, domination-based models toward more collective, relational cultures can foster resilience and improve health.

Community care and co-regulation: Mainstream health interventions should focus on community-based care models where relationships and social connection are prioritized. This could involve peer support networks, neighborhood initiatives, and policies that reduce economic disparities.
Cultural shift toward interdependence: Moving away from the dominance hierarchy would require a broader cultural shift, emphasizing relational health, vulnerability, and shared responsibility. These values promote the co-regulation necessary for maintaining nervous system homeostasis.

Conclusion:
From an IPNB perspective, addressing the health challenges of baby boomers and subsequent generations requires looking at the interconnected effects of domination hierarchies and mainstream cultural values. These systems promote stress, isolation, and disconnection, which dysregulate the nervous system and contribute to worsening health outcomes. Solutions lie in fostering egalitarian, supportive communities that value interdependence and relational well-being, allowing for better nervous system regulation and long-term health improvements.

This post includes content generated by ChatGPT, a language model developed by OpenAI. The AI-generated content has been reviewed and edited for accuracy and relevance.