Happy Americans

Despite the economic crisis in the U.S., two in five Americans (41%) say this Thanksgiving they have more to be thankful for than a few years ago, according to The Harris Poll.

Another two in five (41%) say they have about as much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving, compared to a few years ago and just over one in 10 (13%) say they have less to be thankful for this year; 5% say they are not sure.

The Harris Poll surveyed 3,084 adults online between Oct. 11 and 18.

“Some of the things Americans say they are thankful for are not surprising, such as family and health, but other items mentioned are less expected, such as the two thirds who say so about their work situation (65%) and their own personal economic situation (66%),” Harris noted in the survey report. “It may be that through the economic crisis and the emergence of a possible ‘new normal’, Americans have come to be more appreciative of what they have, regardless if it’s less than ideal, or less than it once was.”

SURVEY FINDINGS
• Less than a quarter of Americans today say they are thankful for the economic situation in the U.S. (23%). This is the lowest number of Americans who say so since the question was first asked in 1980, and a stark contrast to the majorities who said they were thankful for the U.S.’s economic situation between 1983 and 1988.

• This year, more Americans say they have more to be thankful for than said so in either 1974 when this question was first asked, or a few years later in 1980 (38% and 37%, respectively). However, in 1983 half of Americans said they had more to be thankful for (50%), which is more than say so today.

• Younger Americans say they have more to be thankful for this Thanksgiving than in previous years — half of those 18-33 say this (49%), as do two in five of those 34-45 and 46-64 (43% and 38%), compared to just three in ten Matures, 65 and older, (30%) who say the same.

• Americans with more education say they are more thankful — 46% of both those who have graduated from college or attended grad school say this, compared to 35% of those who have not attended any college.

• Adults aged 65 and older say they are thankful for the health of their family (87%), their family relationships (90%), their own personal economic situation (74%), their work situation (68%), because good technology is easily accessible (78%) and because technology makes it easy to stay in touch with family and friends (87%).

• Although strong majorities today say they are thankful for the health of their family (86%) and their family relationships (86%), more Americans said they were thankful for these things 30 years ago, in 1980 (96% and 95% said so, respectively).