Americans who feel connected to their neighbors and live in communities with affordable housing and stable jobs are significantly more likely to believe they have control over their future, according to a new Gallup study.
The report, released Tuesday through a partnership between Gallup and the Walton Family Foundation, found that one in three Americans feel their lives are largely shaped by circumstances outside their control rather than by their own choices and actions.
Researchers surveyed more than 6,700 adults nationwide earlier this year as part of the “How Opportunity Takes Root” study examining the relationship between opportunity, wellbeing, and community conditions.
The findings showed younger adults and lower-income households were the least likely to feel a sense of personal agency.
Among Americans ages 18 to 34, only 60% said they feel able to shape their own path in life, compared to 75% of adults 55 and older. Income differences were even sharper. Just 54% of people in households earning less than $36,000 annually said they feel in control of their future, compared to 80% among households earning $180,000 or more.
Researchers found that community relationships appeared to play a major role regardless of income level.
Lower-income residents who said they had reliable neighbors were far more likely to feel optimistic and self-determined than those who lacked strong neighborhood ties. Similar patterns emerged among younger adults.
The study also linked stronger feelings of opportunity to communities with stable employment options and affordable housing.
Adults who believed their local area offered dependable jobs and housing they could afford were substantially more likely to report a sense of control over their lives, even when compared against people in similar income brackets.
Researchers said the findings suggest that strengthening local communities and improving neighborhood stability may be just as important as addressing individual financial challenges when it comes to improving long-term wellbeing and opportunity.
The report additionally found that Americans who feel they can shape their own path are far more likely to report thriving in life and feeling optimistic about the future.
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