WASHINGTON (AFP) – The number of Americans who say their lives are a struggle climbed steeply last year from less than half the population to nearly six in 10 people, a vast Gallup poll showed Friday.
"In January of 2008, 49 percent of Americans were thriving, 47 percent struggling and four percent were suffering. In November and December, 38 percent were thriving, 58 percent struggling and four percent suffering," Gallup scientist Jim Harter commented on findings of the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index.
"The 11-point swing in struggling Americans represents more than 22 million people," Harter said on Gallup's website.
To compile the Index, Gallup surveyed at least 1,000 US adults each day last year, starting in January.
Respondents were asked to score six aspects of their lives, including how they rate their current lives and where they think they will be in five years -- the so-called life evaluation index.
That saw a "major drop off" in November and December, as the US economy plunged deeper into crisis, Gallup said.
The increase in percent struggling is a function both of how people feel about their present situation, and also how they view the next five years. The changes have been particularly felt among those working full-time, over age 35 with children. And the changes have affected people at most income levels.
"Economics, good health, and a good job are consistent predictors of life evaluation," said Harter.
"Having a good job in America will continue to be one of the most important well-being determinants in 2009," he said.
US unemployment jumped to a 16-year high of 7.2 percent as a deepening recession pushed employers to shed a massive 524,000 jobs in December, capping the worst annual performance since 1945.
Americans' evaluations of their physical health, emotional health, healthy behavior and work environment also went down last year, the study showed.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090116/pl_afp/financeeconomyus_20090116152133
"In January of 2008, 49 percent of Americans were thriving, 47 percent struggling and four percent were suffering. In November and December, 38 percent were thriving, 58 percent struggling and four percent suffering," Gallup scientist Jim Harter commented on findings of the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index.
"The 11-point swing in struggling Americans represents more than 22 million people," Harter said on Gallup's website.
To compile the Index, Gallup surveyed at least 1,000 US adults each day last year, starting in January.
Respondents were asked to score six aspects of their lives, including how they rate their current lives and where they think they will be in five years -- the so-called life evaluation index.
That saw a "major drop off" in November and December, as the US economy plunged deeper into crisis, Gallup said.
The increase in percent struggling is a function both of how people feel about their present situation, and also how they view the next five years. The changes have been particularly felt among those working full-time, over age 35 with children. And the changes have affected people at most income levels.
"Economics, good health, and a good job are consistent predictors of life evaluation," said Harter.
"Having a good job in America will continue to be one of the most important well-being determinants in 2009," he said.
US unemployment jumped to a 16-year high of 7.2 percent as a deepening recession pushed employers to shed a massive 524,000 jobs in December, capping the worst annual performance since 1945.
Americans' evaluations of their physical health, emotional health, healthy behavior and work environment also went down last year, the study showed.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090116/pl_afp/financeeconomyus_20090116152133
