Increasing work hassles, money worries and loneliness mean people aged 35 to 44 are the unhappiest in society, a study by British counsellors Relate shows.
The age group came out worst in a series of measures, with 40 per cent saying they had been cheated on by a partner and 21 per cent suffering loneliness a lot of the time.
Relate says it shows the mid-life crisis, traditionally the territory of those in their late 40s to 50s, is affecting younger people.
Nearly a third of people aged 35 to 44 said they had left a job because of a bad relationship with a colleague, with a similar amount thinking their family relationships would improve if they worked less.
A quarter wished they had more time for their family, while 23 per cent wanted more time for their friends.
Relate boss Claire Tyler says: "It's when life gets really hard. You're starting a family, pressure at work can be immense and money worries can be crippling. We cannot afford to sit back and watch this happen."
Job appeal posted on eBay
An unemployed father in Britain has tried selling his skills for one year via online shopping website eBay in a bid to support his family - setting no minimum bid,
Graphic designer Tristam Rossin took the drastic action after being unable to find work for the past two months, with his savings running out. "I've a wife and three children to support, so this is a very serious venture for me - it is not a hoax," the 36-year-old says.
His last role as a designer had an annual salary of £27,000 (HK$330,000) but he didn't expect the eBay venture to lead to a similar wage.
The advert has now been removed by eBay, with the company saying the listing is in breach of their policies.
Rossin says: "I've applied for jobs nationwide, but I'm up against hundreds of applicants for each role. It is a cutthroat market and I knew that I had to do something drastic."
Time to get on your bike
Walking or cycling to work could help stave off heart failure, a new study suggested.
American researcher Dr Gang Hu and his colleagues studied nearly 60,000 Finnish men and women who participated in a series of surveys between 1972 and 2002.
During an average follow-up of 18 years, about 3,500 (6 per cent) developed heart failure.
Physical activity significantly lowered the risk among men and women. Men who vigorously exercised at least three times a week enjoyed the most benefit: a 47 per cent lower risk of heart failure than inactive men.
Men who participated in moderate or high occupational activity - from a fair amount of standing and walking to heavy manual labour - had about a quarter lower risk of heart failure, compared with those who sat around an office all day.
For women, drops in risk were 33 per cent and 13 per cent for moderate and high activity respectively.
