young boy sitting on a soccer ball alone on the wedge of a soccer pitch watching other kids play
Newsletter

The Decline of Youth Sports is Making Teen Loneliness Worse

Daniel A. Cox June 1, 2023

The social capital benefits of youth athletics are profound Continue Reading →

Black and white photograph of an empty park bench next to a paved walkway in early spring
Newsletter

Gun Violence is an Assault on Community Life 

Daniel A. Cox May 18, 2023

Mass Shootings are Uniquely Destructive to America’s Public Places Continue Reading →

The above image was created using Shutterstock’s AI image generating software. The AI was prompted to “Recreate Edward Hopper’s Office at Night featuring a boy sitting at a desk in front of a computer playing video games.”
Newsletter

Will Artificial Intelligence Make Us Lonelier?

Daniel A. Cox May 4, 2023

As AI becomes more advanced, it promises to reduce human interactions Continue Reading →

abortion rights protestors holding a sign reading "just say no to theocracy."
Newsletter

Will Abortion Restrictions Animate Secular Voters?

Daniel A. Cox April 20, 2023

The Dobbs decision may reshape the political priorities of nonreligious Americans Continue Reading →

Three white men at a Trump rally wearing red "In God we Trump" t-shirts.
Newsletter

Are White Evangelical Christians Finally Tiring of Trump?

Daniel A. Cox April 6, 2023

White Evangelical Christian support for former president Donald Trump is fracturing along familiar lines. Continue Reading →

Photo of a girl sitting on the floor with her head between her knees.
Newsletter

The Despair of Young Liberal Women

Daniel A. Cox March 23, 2023

New research shows young people are in crisis, but how much is due to politics? Continue Reading →

Blue, purple, and pink watercolor bisexual flag.
Newsletter

What is Behind the Generational Jump in Bisexual Identity?

Daniel A. Cox March 9, 2023

One in eight Gen Zers now identifies as bisexual, a uniquely generational trend. Continue Reading →

Cartoon of a man and woman in distress
Newsletter

The Gender Divide in Dating Expectations

Daniel A. Cox February 23, 2023

Are women asking too much or are men offering too little? Continue Reading →

Three men playing cards cartoon.
Newsletter

Male Friendships Are Not Doing the Job

Daniel A. Cox February 9, 2023

Society Expects More from Men as Husbands, Fathers, and Partners, But Men Expect Too Little from Each Other Continue Reading →

#MeToo movement
Newsletter

The Men of the #MeToo Generation 

Daniel A. Cox January 26, 2023

Young men face an increasingly complicated and uncertain dating landscape following #MeToo, as revealed by our qualitative research findings. Continue Reading →

Survey Reports

Cartoon rendering of a series of different online dating app prospects, on phone screens

Daniel A. Cox
February 9, 2023

From Swiping to Sexting: The Enduring Gender Divide in American Dating and Relationships

The January 2023 American Perspectives Survey sheds some light on dating preferences, experiences, and perspectives. The national survey of more than 5,000 adults age 18 and older, including nearly 800 single adults, finds that Americans have strong dating preferences when it comes to living at home, being unemployed, and smoking.

Red leather-bound Qur'an on a wooden table with prayer beads and a light blue surgical mask draped over top.

Lindsey Witt-Swanson, Jennifer Benz, Daniel A. Cox
January 5, 2023

Faith After the Pandemic: How COVID-19 Changed American Religion

The Survey Center on American Life at AEI teamed up with researchers at NORC at the University of Chicago to measure religious affiliation and attendance both before the pandemic (2018 to March 2020) and again in spring 2022, revealing who remained at the pews, who returned to the pews, and who left.

A cartoon showing a vibrant office from the ceiling view.

Brent Orrell, Daniel A. Cox, Jessie Wall
October 25, 2022

The Social Workplace: Social Capital, Human Dignity, and Work in America

Over the past two decades, American social and civic life has been on an undeniable downward trajectory. New research finds that the workplace remains an increasingly important generator of social capital in the wake of this civic contraction.

Photograph of pro-choice protestors holding signs

Karlyn Bowman, Daniel A. Cox
October 4, 2022

Gender, Generation and Abortion: Shifting Politics and Perspectives After Roe

In the wake of the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade, the issue of abortion continues to garner widespread public attention. Young women are following the debate over abortion rights closely and more intensely than other Americans. How will it affect their vote in the upcoming election and their approach to politics?