The Pew Research Foundation asked people in 17 countries about what makes life meaningful. Relative to other countries, Americans were more likely to cite family, friends and faith and less likely to mention occupation or material well-being.
Critics of American society often claim that Americans are obsessed with wealth and material goods. That’s not true. The survey by the Pew Research Foundation found that the two areas of life were Americans were most likely to find meaning were family and friends. Indeed, Americans and Britons were more likely to cite family and friends among the top two sources of meaning in life than those in other advanced nations (below).
Material well-being and occupation ranked third and fourth–lower than in most other nations. Americans were more likely to find meaning in their faith than were people anywhere else.
Americans are also more likely to see value in life coming from many different sources. Only one in four Americans found meaning in life in only one area. Europeans and especially Asians were more likely to find meaning in only one life dimension.
At GOUSA we recognize that living a full life involves finding meaning in many different aspects of the human condition. That’s why we stand for more opportunity for all Americans to realize their potential in every dimension of their lives. Our work is not limited to one area. Rather, we stand for expanded economic, social, educational, national and personal opportunity for all.