New Yorkers are increasingly dissatisfied with a variety of facets in their lives, from their financial well-being, their home, family life and work, a Siena College survey released on Wednesday found.
Only 27% of New York residents are more satisfied with their lives than they were a year ago, the survey found, reflecting the broader global uncertainty over the economy, war and a pandemic that began more than two years ago.
"In 2018 we noted a decline in New Yorkers life satisfaction from 2008 when we first asked these questions, but after COVID, political turmoil and now inflation, we see a significant drop among state residents in every category of life satisfaction," said Siena College Research Institute Director Don Levy. "It has been a trying time for many New Yorkers. When considering all residents we see the largest drops in satisfaction with family relationships, where they live, their finances, what they do for work and their health."
New Yorkers remain most satisfied with their family relationships, with 83% polled being somewhat or completely satisfied. They are also happy with where the live at 79% and their spirtual life at 77% satisfaction.
But just under 50% report being satisfied with their financial condition and only 29.7% are satisfied with the direction the world is taking.
Overall, scores from 2008 and 2018 were far higher. Fourteen years ago, nearly 70% of New Yorkers reported being satisfied with their lives. That number is now down to 62.8%.
"While every area of life satisfaction is down across New Yorkers, the highest levels of satisfaction, those areas that give us comfort remain our relationships with others and our religious or spiritual life," Levy said.