{"id":7873,"date":"2023-09-18T13:01:34","date_gmt":"2023-09-18T18:01:34","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"2025-04-23T23:59:47","modified_gmt":"2025-04-24T03:59:47","slug":"americans-are-more-pessimistic-than-optimistic-about-many-aspects-of-the-countrys-future","status":"publish","type":"short-read","link":"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/short-reads\/2023\/09\/18\/americans-are-more-pessimistic-than-optimistic-about-many-aspects-of-the-countrys-future\/","title":{"rendered":"Americans are more pessimistic than optimistic about many aspects of the country\u2019s future"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-640-wide\"><a rel=\"attachment wp-att-9618\" href=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/short-reads\/2023\/09\/18\/americans-are-more-pessimistic-than-optimistic-about-many-aspects-of-the-countrys-future\/sr_23-09-18_us-optimism_feature-png\/\"><img data-dominant-color=\"6a86af\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #6a86af;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/09\/SR_23.09.18_US-optimism_feature.png?resize=480,270 480w, https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/09\/SR_23.09.18_US-optimism_feature.png?resize=782,440 782w, https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/09\/SR_23.09.18_US-optimism_feature.png?resize=960,540 960w, https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/09\/SR_23.09.18_US-optimism_feature.png?resize=1200,675 1200w, https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/09\/SR_23.09.18_US-optimism_feature.png?resize=1280,720 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 480px, (max-width: 782px) 782px, 640px\" height=\"360\" width=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/09\/SR_23.09.18_US-optimism_feature.png?w=640\" alt=\"American flags fly at the Washington Monument in Washington, D.C. (Beata Zawrzel\/NurPhoto via Getty Images)\" class=\"wp-image-9618 not-transparent\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">American flags fly at the Washington Monument in Washington, D.C. (Beata Zawrzel\/NurPhoto via Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Americans feel generally pessimistic about the future of the United States when it comes to several aspects of society, according to a new Pew Research Center survey. In particular, 63% of Americans are pessimistic about the country\u2019s moral and ethical standards, and 59% are pessimistic about its education system.<\/p>\n\n\n<div style=\"border-width:1px;padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);--block-gap: inherit\" class=\"wp-block-prc-block-collapsible has-background has-ui-beige-very-light-background-color has-border-color has-ui-beige-dark-border-color\" id=\"how-we-did-this\" data-wp-interactive=\"{&quot;namespace&quot;:&quot;prc-block\\\/collapsible&quot;}\" data-wp-context=\"{&quot;collapsibleId&quot;:&quot;how-we-did-this&quot;,&quot;isOpen&quot;:false}\" data-wp-class--is-open=\"context.isOpen\" data-wp-init--scroll-into-view=\"callbacks.onInitScrollIntoView\"><div class=\"wp-block-prc-block-collapsible__title\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.onClick\"><div>How we did this<\/div><button class=\"wp-block-prc-block-collapsible__icon\"><span data-wp-bind--hidden=\"context.isOpen\"><i class=\"icon icon-library__light icon__circle-plus\"><svg style=\"width: 1em; height: 1em;\"><use xlink:href=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/plugins\/prc-icon-library\/build\/icons\/sprites\/light.svg#circle-plus\"><\/use><\/svg><\/i><\/span><span data-wp-bind--hidden=\"!context.isOpen\" hidden><i class=\"icon icon-library__light icon__circle-minus\"><svg style=\"width: 1em; height: 1em;\"><use xlink:href=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/plugins\/prc-icon-library\/build\/icons\/sprites\/light.svg#circle-minus\"><\/use><\/svg><\/i><\/span><\/button><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-prc-block-collapsible__content\">\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pew Research Center conducted this analysis to better understand Americans\u2019 outlook on the United States\u2019 future with regard to various aspects of society.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This analysis is based on a survey of 5,073 U.S. adults conducted April 10-16, 2023. Everyone who took part is a member of the Center\u2019s American Trends Panel (ATP), an online survey panel that is recruited through national, random sampling of residential addresses. Address-based sampling ensures that nearly all U.S. adults have a chance of selection. The survey is weighted to be representative of the U.S. adult population by gender, race, ethnicity, partisan affiliation, education and other categories. Read more about the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/methods\/u-s-survey-research\/american-trends-panel\/\">ATP\u2019s methodology<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here are the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/SR_23.09.18_US-optimism_topline.pdf\">questions used for this analysis<\/a>, along with responses,&nbsp;and the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/social-trends\/2023\/06\/14\/support-for-blm-methodology\/\">survey methodology<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-640-wide is-resized\"><a rel=\"attachment wp-att-9612\" href=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/short-reads\/2023\/09\/18\/americans-are-more-pessimistic-than-optimistic-about-many-aspects-of-the-countrys-future\/sr_23-09-18_us-optimism_1-png\/\"><img data-dominant-color=\"e4e3d7\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/09\/SR_23.09.18_US-optimism_1.png?resize=480,606 480w, https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/09\/SR_23.09.18_US-optimism_1.png?resize=782,987 782w, https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/09\/SR_23.09.18_US-optimism_1.png?resize=840,1060 840w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 480px, (max-width: 782px) 782px, 640px\" height=\"808\" src=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/09\/SR_23.09.18_US-optimism_1.png?w=640\" alt=\"A bar chart showing that Americans are more pessimistic than optimistic about some aspects of U.S. society.\" class=\"wp-image-9612 not-transparent\" style=\"--dominant-color: #e4e3d7; width:420px\" width=\"640\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Smaller shares are pessimistic about other aspects of the country\u2019s future. Still, more Americans feel pessimistic than optimistic about:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The United States\u2019 ability to ensure racial equality for all people, regardless of race or ethnicity (44% are pessimistic, compared with 28% who are optimistic)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The country\u2019s ability to get along with other countries (41% vs. 30%)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The institution of marriage and the family in the country (40% vs. 25%)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Views on these items differ considerably by party and, in some cases, by race and ethnicity and by age.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-640-wide is-resized\"><a rel=\"attachment wp-att-9614\" href=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/short-reads\/2023\/09\/18\/americans-are-more-pessimistic-than-optimistic-about-many-aspects-of-the-countrys-future\/sr_23-09-18_us-optimism_2-png\/\"><img data-dominant-color=\"f0f0f0\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/09\/SR_23.09.18_US-optimism_2.png?resize=480,617 480w, https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/09\/SR_23.09.18_US-optimism_2.png?resize=782,1005 782w, https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/09\/SR_23.09.18_US-optimism_2.png?resize=840,1080 840w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 480px, (max-width: 782px) 782px, 640px\" height=\"823\" src=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/09\/SR_23.09.18_US-optimism_2.png?w=640\" alt=\"A dot plot showing that Republicans are more pessimistic than Democrats about aspects of the country\u2019s future, except when it comes to racial equality.\" class=\"wp-image-9614 not-transparent\" style=\"--dominant-color: #f0f0f0; width:420px\" width=\"640\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">By double-digit margins, Republicans and Republican-leaning independents are more likely than Democrats and Democratic leaners to say they are pessimistic about:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The institution of marriage and the family in the country (56% of Republicans are pessimistic, compared with 25% of Democrats)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The United States\u2019 moral and ethical standards (75% vs. 54%)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The country\u2019s education system (67% vs. 53%)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The country\u2019s ability to get along with other countries (48% vs. 35%)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The only topic Democrats are more pessimistic about than Republicans is racial equality. More than half of Democrats (54%) are pessimistic about the United States\u2019 ability to ensure racial equality for all people. In contrast, 34% of Republicans are pessimistic about this and 33% are optimistic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Views about moral and ethical standards and about the institution of marriage and the family also differ by age. Adults ages 65 and older are more pessimistic than younger age groups in both areas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Across racial and ethnic groups, White adults are the most pessimistic group when it comes to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The United States\u2019 moral and ethical standards: 71% of White adults feel pessimistic about this, compared with 55% of Asian, 50% of Black and 50% of Hispanic adults.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The country\u2019s system of education: 64% of White adults feel pessimistic, compared with 50% of Hispanic, 48% of Asian and 45% of Black adults.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The country\u2019s ability to get along with other countries: 45% of White adults feel pessimistic, compared with 36% of Hispanic adults and 34% each among Black and Asian adults.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A different pattern emerges when it comes to the country\u2019s ability to ensure racial equality in the future. About half of Black (51%) and Asian (49%) adults say they feel pessimistic about this, while less than half of Hispanic (44%) and White (43%) adults say the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Note: Here are the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/SR_23.09.18_US-optimism_topline.pdf\">questions used for this analysis<\/a>, along with responses,&nbsp;and the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/social-trends\/2023\/06\/14\/support-for-blm-methodology\/\">survey methodology<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>63% of Americans are pessimistic about the country\u2019s moral and ethical standards, and 59% are pessimistic about its education system.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":658,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"sub_headline":"","sub_title":"","_prc_public_revisions":[],"_ppp_expiration_hours":0,"_ppp_enabled":false,"ai_generated_summary":"","apple_news_api_created_at":"2023-09-18T17:01:58Z","apple_news_api_id":"d5bc5f4d-84bb-459b-a9d1-7986d01901b1","apple_news_api_modified_at":"2023-09-18T17:01:58Z","apple_news_api_revision":"AAAAAAAAAAD\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/w==","apple_news_api_share_url":"https:\/\/apple.news\/A1bxfTYS7RZup0XmG0BkBsQ","apple_news_cover_media_provider":"image","apple_news_coverimage":0,"apple_news_coverimage_caption":"","apple_news_cover_video_id":0,"apple_news_cover_video_url":"","apple_news_cover_embedwebvideo_url":"","apple_news_is_hidden":false,"apple_news_is_paid":"","apple_news_is_preview":false,"apple_news_is_sponsored":"","apple_news_maturity_rating":"","apple_news_metadata":"\"\"","apple_news_pullquote":"","apple_news_pullquote_position":"","apple_news_slug":"","apple_news_suppress_video_url":false,"apple_news_use_image_component":false,"apple_news_api_pending":"1713063268","relatedPosts":[],"datacite_doi":"","datacite_doi_citation":"","_prc_seo_qr_attachment_id":0,"spoken_article_player_enabled":true,"displayBylines":true,"footnotes":"","prc_watchers":[],"_prc_fork_parent":0,"_prc_fork_status":"","_prc_active_fork":0},"categories":[101,361,109,141],"bylines":[558,638],"collection":[],"datasets":[],"_post_visibility":[],"formats":[467],"_fund_pool":[],"languages":[],"regions-countries":[515],"research-teams":[519],"workflow-status":[],"class_list":["post-7873","short-read","type-short-read","status-publish","hentry","category-discrimination-prejudice","category-education","category-national-conditions","category-racial-bias-discrimination","bylines-alex-cahn","bylines-kiley-hurst","formats-short-read","regions-countries-united-states","research-teams-social-trends"],"label":"Short Read","post_parent":0,"word_count":573,"canonical_url":"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/short-reads\/2023\/09\/18\/americans-are-more-pessimistic-than-optimistic-about-many-aspects-of-the-countrys-future\/","art_direction":{"A1":{"id":9618,"rawUrl":"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/09\/SR_23.09.18_US-optimism_feature.png","url":"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/09\/SR_23.09.18_US-optimism_feature.png?w=564&h=317&crop=1","width":564,"height":317,"caption":"American flags fly at the Washington Monument in Washington, D.C. 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