By now you've probably heard the news: happiness is on the wane, thanks to the pandemic. Only 19 percent of Americans reported being "very happy" in the winter of 2021—down from 31 percent who felt that way in 2018, according to the General Social Survey. The share who reported being "not too happy" nearly doubled, rising from 13 to 24 percent.
The General Social Survey is the premier source of data on trends in American attitudes. It has been probing the mindset of a nationally representative sample of the population in most years since 1972 and in every even-numbered year since 1994. The last GSS cross-sectional survey was fielded in 2018. The most recent iteration was scheduled for the spring of 2020. Because of the coronavirus pandemic, however, the survey was delayed and most of the data were collected in 2021.
"Taken all together, how would you say things are these days—would you say that you are very happy, pretty happy, or not too happy?" 2021 (and 2018)
Very happy: 19.4% (30.8%)
Pretty happy: 56.8% (56.4%)
Not too happy: 23.8% (12.7%)
The decline in happiness occurred across the board and to the same degree. In every generation, fewer reported being "very happy" and more reported being "not too happy."
Another GSS question may reveal one reason for the decline in happiness: life during the pandemic has been less than thrilling. Only 35 percent of the public thought life was "exciting" in 2021, down from the 51 percent majority who felt that way in 2018.
"In general, do you find life exciting, pretty routine, or dull?" 2021 (and 2018)
Exciting: 35.1% (50.7%)
Routine: 59.3% (45.1%)
Dull: 5.6% (4.2%)
The percentage of respondents who think life is exciting fell in every generation between 2018 and 2021. Millennials were most likely to say the thrill is gone. Only 31 percent of Millennials thought life was exciting in 2021, down from 50 percent who felt that way in 2018—a 19 percentage point drop. Among Gen Xers, 35 percent said life was exciting in 2021 (down from 50 percent in 2018). A larger 38 percent of Boomers said life was exciting in 2021 (down from 48 percent in 2018). Among Americans aged 76 or older, 41 percent said life was exciting in 2021 (down from 54 percent in 2018).
Note: Older Americans are defined as those born before 1946, Boomers from 1946 through 1964, Gen Xers from 1965 through 1976, and Millennials from 1977 through 1994.
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