{
  "id": 18040180,
  "title": "Disillusion runs deep among young Americans, poll reveals",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/04/disillusion-runs-deep-among-young-americans-poll-reveals",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-11-04T00:00:01.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Phys.org",
    "slug": "phys-org",
    "url": "https://phys.org/news/2026-11-disillusion-deep-young-americans-poll.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A recent poll reveals deep disillusionment among young Americans regarding their financial future and the direction of the nation, according to the Harvard Youth Poll. For the first time in the poll's 26-year history, more respondents anticipate being financially worse off than their parents (27%) than better off (25%). Additionally, 49% of young adults report their personal finances are worse than when the current administration took office. This pessimism may impact the upcoming midterm elections, which are seen as a referendum on the president's policies and the nation's economy. However, the pessimism extends beyond economic concerns, as young people also express doubts about the future of American democracy and their role in it.\n\nBetsy Fischer Martin, director of the Institute of Politics at Harvard Kennedy School, and John Della Volpe, its polling director, attribute the decline in financial optimism to economic concerns and a sense that their voices are not reflected in politics. They note that these factors have not improved as the election approaches. Martin adds that the path to the American dream, once thought attainable through hard work and education, has become increasingly difficult for young people.\n\nThe poll also highlights a lack of confidence in the fairness and accuracy of the upcoming elections, with 91% of respondents identifying cost of living as an important priority and 88% seeing corruption as crucial to their vote. Despite this, young people continue to vote at higher rates than previous generations. The poll found that among likely voters, 63% describe their vote as opposition to the president and his policies, rather than an affirmative vote for a preferred candidate.",
  "summary": "The kids are not all right on the future. For the first time in the 26-year history of the Harvard Youth Poll, more respondents expect to be worse off financially than their parents (27%) than better off (25%).",
  "key_points": [
    "27% of young Americans expect worse financial future than parents",
    "49% rate personal finances worse since current administration",
    "Doubts about American democracy and role in it"
  ],
  "editors_take": "A growing sense of economic precariousness and political alienation transforms the upcoming midterm elections into a defensive referendum driven more by opposition to current leadership than by candidate preference.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}