OnePoll recently conducted a study that revealed that half of Americans claim that 2021 was the worst year of their lives. The study focused on 1,000 U.S adults and started on the 13th day of December 2021.
The study aimed to acquire an end-of-year reflection on how Americans were fairing during the pandemic. Researchers found that 53% of the respondents had experienced an unpleasant year. However, seven in ten Americans still believe that 2022 will be better than the last year.
The study focused on millennials aged 25 to 40, Gen Z respondents (18 to 24) Gen X (41 to 56,) and boomers aged 57 years and above.
The study revealed that 66% of millennials found 2021 challenging, while 62% of Gen Z and 43% of Gen X shared the same sentiments. However, 56% of boomers had a different opinion about their experience in 2021.
How participants described themselves
The study authors inquired about the respondent’s view of life in the beginning of the year. 78% of the respondents identified themselves as optimistic, while 61% described idealists. The idealists envisioned things as they could be, while 19% admitted to being realists; they see things as they are.
The study authors also inquired about the respondent’s parenting skills during the pandemic. The findings revealed that being a parent in 2021 was more hectic than in the previous years. However, 73% of the respondents are optimistic that in 2022, they will spend more time with their children.
The study further revealed that 72% of millennial parents are more likely to spot parental difficulty than 62% of Gen Z participants. Boomers, on the other hand, claimed not to face any difficulties.
Respondent’s feelings on heading back to employment
Nine out of ten Americans were happy to get back to work physically and full-time in 2022. Despite an increase of reported COVID cases attributed to the Omicron variant, only 21% of the Respondents don’t plan to return to the office physically.
Though 66% get anxiety from the thought of making small talk with their coworkers, 60% of the respondents are eager to catch up with their coworkers, meet new ones, and physically attend meetings.
