For Generation Z, American religious life has been defined by its diversity. And religious pluralism has been as much practice as principle. Continue Reading →

In The News April 4, 2022

Do Yourself a Favor and Go Find a ‘Third Place’

Beatrice Lee

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Blog April 4, 2022

The Childhood Loneliness of Generation Z

Daniel A. Cox

A young woman wrapped in a blanket stares pensively out the window.

There’s a growing concern that young adults today are experiencing an epidemic of loneliness, social isolation, and disconnection. A lot of blame is being placed on social media, or more recently the pandemic. Delayed family formation is another likely factor—young adults are marrying later than they once did. But what if Gen Z is lonelier Continue Reading →

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In The News March 28, 2022

Are Americans Unhappy?

Beatrice Lee

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In The News March 25, 2022

Americans Are Leaving Church and Most Aren’t Coming Back

Beatrice Lee

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Survey report March 24, 2022

Generation Z and the Future of Faith in America

Daniel A. Cox

A cartoon drawing of a church. Inside of the church is a pastor looking at empty pews.

The religious and social experiences of young adults today are entirely different than previous generations. New family dynamics and parenting choices are reshaping the religious experiences of young people, setting them on a very different trajectory than past generations and making Generation Z the least religious generation. Continue Reading →

In The News March 22, 2022

The State of Faith

Beatrice Lee

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Blog March 14, 2022

Americans Are More Optimistic Than You Think

Samuel J. Abrams

United We Stand sign on American Flag

Groups facing prejudice in the country today are among the most optimistic about the nation’s future. Continue Reading →

Commentary March 13, 2022

We Live in a Nation of Strangers. That Needs to Change

Daniel A. Cox

A black and white photo of a man and woman sitting back-to-back in a train car.

Diversity is not the source of our current problems; our troubling incuriosity about our neighbors is driving disconnection. Continue Reading →

Survey Reports

Daniel A. Cox, Jae Grace, Avery Shields
April 27, 2026

Strangers Next Door: The Decline of Neighborhood Socializing and the Class Divide in Belonging

Acknowledgment The American Enterprise Institute’s Survey Center on American Life is grateful to the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation for its generous support of this research. As Americans spend more of their time online, the neighborhood—once a primary physical location for real-world socialization—is playing less of a central role than ever before. Since Continue Reading →

Daniel A. Cox, Kelsey Eyre Hammond
November 20, 2025

Individuality and Moral Behavior: A Generational Divide in Moral Judgments and Self-Expression

Younger and older Americans increasingly disagree on the morality of certain behaviors, reflecting deep shifts in views about individuality, self-expression, and the role of community and faith. Continue Reading →

Daniel A. Cox
July 2, 2025

America’s Cultural Crossroads: Enduring Discontent, Rising Disconnection, and an Uncertain Future

A new survey from the Survey Center on American Life shows Americans are changing course on major cultural issues—from immigration and gay rights to gender roles and public trust. Continue Reading →

Daniel A. Cox, Kelsey Eyre Hammond
January 29, 2025

Romantic Recession: How Politics, Pessimism, and Anxiety Shape American Courtship

A new report by the Survey Center on American life finds that safety concerns and declining trust are reshaping modern dating, leaving many singles feeling pessimistic about their prospects. Sharp gender divides in attitudes toward dating apps, trust, and relationships reveal how these challenges are redefining the search for connection. Continue Reading →