What is considered "better" varies from person to person. I know personally, I'm deeply worried about whether or not my children will have a better life than me. I don't know of anyone my age(23) that actually has any close friends. The companies I work for don't even pretend to be loyal to me or anyone else at my income bracket. An unexpected illness could bankrupt me and my wife. Testosterone levels for men are significantly lower now than then, which sure affects a man's quality of life.
People today may have more things, and may be more healthy, but that doesn't mean their quality of life is greater unless they're part of the upper middle/upper class, and even then, it's often very stressful.