Page 30 - bon-dia-aruba-20200617

A30 FEATURE
Wednesday 17 June 2020
Poll: Americans are the unhappiest they've been in 50 years

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — there haven't been sig-
It's been a rough year for nificant changes in Ameri-
the American psyche. Folks cans' assessment of their
in the U.S. are more un- families' finances since
happy today than they've 2018 and that Americans'
been in nearly 50 years. satisfaction with their fami-
This bold — yet unsurpris- lies' ability to get along fi-
ing — conclusion comes nancially was as high as it's
from the COVID Response been over nearly five de-
Tracking Study, conducted cades.
by NORC at the University Jonathan Berney, of Austin,
of Chicago. It finds that just Texas, said that the pan-
14% of American adults say demic — and his resulting
they're very happy, down layoff as a digital marketing
from 31% who said the manager for a law firm —
same in 2018. That year, caused him to reevaluate
23% said they'd often or everything in his life. While
sometimes felt isolated in he admits that he's not ex-
recent weeks. Now, 50% actly happy now, that's led
say that. to another uncomfortable
The survey, conducted in question: Was he truly hap-
late May, draws on nearly py before the pandemic?
a half-century of research In this May 10, 2020, file photo, a merchant prepares a floral arrangement on Mother's Day at the "2020 just fast forwarded
from the General Social Los Angeles Flower Market in Los Angeles. a spiritual decay. When
Survey, which has collect- Associated Press things are good, you don't
ed data on American at- tend to look inwards," he
titudes and behaviors at it has been in the past 25 the COVID-19 outbreak. about twice as likely to say said, adding that he was
least every other year since years. Only 42% of Ameri- Fewer report smoking more they sometimes or often living and working in the Mi-
1972. No less than 29% cans believe that when than usual, crying or feel- have felt a lack of com- ami area before the pan-
of Americans have ever their children reach their ing dazed now than after panionship (45% vs. 27%) demic hit. As Florida dealt
called themselves very age, their standard of living those two previous trag- and felt left out (37% vs. with the virus, his girlfriend
happy in that survey. will be better. A solid 57% edies, though more report 18%) in the past four weeks. left him and he decided to
Most of the new survey's said that in 2018. Since the having lost their temper or What is surprising, said Lou- leave for Austin. "I probably
interviews were complet- question was asked in 1994, wanting to get drunk. ise Hawkley, a senior re- just wasn't a nice guy to be
ed before the death of the previous low was 45% in — About twice as many search scientist with NORC around from all the stress
George Floyd touched off 1994. Americans report being at the University of Chica- and anxiety. But this forced
nationwide protests and a — Compared with surveys lonely today as in 2018, go, was that loneliness was an existential crisis."
global conversation about conducted after President and not surprisingly given not even more prevalent. Berney, who is looking for
race and police brutality, John F. Kennedy's assassi- the lockdowns that tried to "It isn't as high as it could work, said things have im-
adding to the feelings of nation in 1963 and after the contain the spread of the be," she said. "People have proved from those early,
stress and loneliness Ameri- Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, coronavirus, there's also figured out a way to con- dark days of the pandem-
cans were already fac- Americans are less likely to been a drop in satisfaction nect with others. It's not sat- ic. He's still job hunting but
ing from the coronavirus report some types of emo- with social activities and re- isfactory, but people are has a little savings to live on.
outbreak — especially for tional and psychological lationships. Compared with managing to some extent." He said he's trying to kayak
black Americans. stress reactions following 2018, Americans also are The new poll found that more and center himself
Lexi Walker, a 47-year-old so he's better prepared to
professional fiduciary who deal with any future down-
lives near Greenville, South turn in events.
Carolina, has felt anxious Reimagining happiness
and depressed for long is almost hard-wired into
stretches of this year. She Americans' DNA, said Sonja
moved back to South Car- Lyubomirsky, a psychology
olina late in 2019, then her professor at the University
cat died. Her father passed of California, Riverside.
away in February. Just "Human beings are re-
when she thought she'd markably resilient. There's
get out and socialize in an lots and lots of evidence
attempt to heal from her that we adapt to every-
grief, the pandemic hit. thing. We move forward,"
"It's been one thing after she said, adding that she's
another," Walker said. "This done happiness studies
is very hard. The worst thing since the pandemic start-
about this for me, after so ed and found that some
much, I don't know what's people are slightly happier
going to happen." than last year.
Among other finding from Melinda Hartline, of Tam-
the new poll about life in pa, who was laid off from
the pandemic: her job in public relations
— The public is less optimis- In this April 17, 2020, file photo, using her phone as a mirror, Evie Altman, center, checks out her in March, said she was in a
tic today about the stan- haircut that her son Marxe Orbach, 19, left, did as daughter Satch Orbach, 17, right, watches from depressed daze those first
dard of living improving for the garage of their Bethesda, Md., home. few weeks of unemploy-
the next generation than Associated Press ment. q