As Americans look ahead to the new year and reflect on the year past, a recent Gallup Poll finds the public generally content with their own lives. Most Americans say they are generally happy, with a slim majority saying they are “very happy.” More than 8 in 10 Americans say they are satisfied with their personal lives at this time, including a solid majority who say they are “very satisfied.” This personal satisfaction level contrasts sharply with the low level of satisfaction Americans express with the way things are going “in the United States at this time.” Republicans, married adults, those residing in higher income households, parents of young children, those attending church weekly, and whites are most likely to say they are satisfied and happy at this time.
