Happy, Happy
Americans
A new survey by Precision
Opinion of adults 18 and older found very high levels of personal happiness at
the end of 2010, despite all the news and rhetoric and somewhat higher levels of
optimism going into 2011. Using a 10-point happiness scale:
- 22% proclaimed when it came
to happiness – they were a perfect 10.
- Only 3% rated themselves a
lowly one on the happiness scale. In fact, the survey found only 9% would
consider themselves unhappy (rating of 1 to 4).
- 9% were
neutral.
- An overwhelming percentage
of 84% were on the happy side (rating 6 to 10).
Other findings:
- Those 61 years of age and
older with 32% being very happy (10).
- Women were happier than men
with 25% of the females very happy versus 19% for the guys.
- Those who stated they were
religious were more happy than those who were not with 25% of the religious
group delivering a perfect 10 and only 12% of the non-believers were able to
muster the perfect score.
- Republicans are happier than
Democrats with 27% of the Republicans rating their happiness as a 10 while only
and 15% of the Democrats.
- A whopping 61% of American’s
said their happiness increased while 39% saw it go the other way.
- Interestingly it was the
younger generations that saw their world get happier with 93% of those aged
between 18 and 21 and 70% of those aged 22 to 30.
- 52% of those over 61 saw
their happiness decrease.
- 88% said they expected their
personal level of happiness to increase in 2011.
- When asked if they were
granted one wish: The top three wishes were for world peace, happiness and good
health. Other wishes included the desire to win the lottery, make more money,
see the economy get better, get government representatives to work in harmony
and to end the war.
