A new Pew Research poll just published showed what Americans find most meaningful. Completed in two separate surveys, Pew uncovered some surprising results showing what people value.
Pew asked their questions in two different ways. In the first survey, they asked people an open-ended question, which was essentially “What do you find most meaningful in your life?” The second way Pew asked was to present options (forced-choice) and to rank several topics in terms of value, like family, work, finances, friends, religion, or hobbies.
Not surprisingly, across both surveys, nearly three-quarters of those polled said family was the thing that was most meaningful to them. This seems healthy and natural. What came next is where this gets tricky.
In the open-ended survey, where everybody just listed what seemed most valuable to them off the top of their head, their order (and percentage) went something like this: family (69 percent), followed by career (34 percent), money (23 percent), spirituality and faith (20 percent), and finally, friends (19 percent).
However, the topics, and their order of importance, shifted when people were given only a handful of options. When Pew asked the open-ended question of how much meaning and fulfillment they derive from 15 sources, only “one-in-five cite their religious faith, friendships, or various hobbies and activities” as adding value. Respondents also mention being outdoors, caring for pets, and listening to music.
Religion still plays a strong role in people’s lives. When people were polled under the open-ended method, “religious faith ranks lower, on par with reading and careers.” However, “Among those who do find a great deal of meaning in their religious faith, more than half say it is the single most important source of meaning in their lives.” When broken down further, religious Americans, particularly evangelicals, find meaning in faith whereas atheists found more meaning in finances and activities. Likewise, politically conservative people found more meaning in religion and politically liberal people found more meaning in causes and creativity.
It’s positive that so many Americans value family — it truly is the bedrock of society. I’m also glad that faith still plays a strong role in in society as well.
However, it’s disheartening to see that the percentage is far less than I would have guessed. Even more telling is that Americans listed faith fourth when asked to just simply talk about what matters to them off the top of their head. Friends was listed after that, even. My guess is that this is either because both of these things actually do mean less to people, or possibly, one could guess that people spend a lot of time working, and so it seemed like a natural thing to list as something that provides meaning.
Still, philosophers and therapists alike would likely suggest people get a bit of a reality check. Does anyone at the end of their lives say they wished they worked more? Spent more time outside? Earned more money?
President George W. Bush just buried his father. While President George H.W. Bush earned accolades worthy of legend, from statesmen and veteran to diplomat and president, what stuck out to his son was simply what a wonderful father he was. You don’t even have to have children to feel this way: Other relationships can provide meaning and value — the point is that people seem more valuable than things and most people would probably agree, if pressed.
Yet these surveys didn’t exactly show that. I fear, if people really do value hobbies and work over faith and relationships, the nation is headed toward a spell of deep discontent.
Nicole Russell (@russell_nm) is a contributor to the Washington Examiner’s Beltway Confidential blog. She is a journalist who previously worked in Republican politics in Minnesota.
