Young liberal American women are less happy and more alone

A recent report based on the American Family Survey of 2024 reveals that young liberal American women are more unhappy and exhibit higher rates of loneliness compared to their conservative peers. The data suggests that ideology may be related to differences in satisfaction with life.

According to the findings, 37% of conservative women and 28% of moderate women aged 18 to 40 indicated being "completely satisfied" with their lives. In contrast, only 12% of liberal women reported the same level of satisfaction.

In addition, liberal women showed significantly higher rates of loneliness. Twenty-nine percent of them said they felt lonely several times a week, nearly triple the 11% of their conservative counterparts.

'Marriage and religion ... greater emotional well-being'

Brad Wilcox, a sociologist at the University of Virginia and a member of the Institute for Family Studies, explained to Fox that conservative women tend to have a more optimistic view and focus on personal agency: "They tend to see themselves as responsible for their destiny and not as victims of external structural forces." 

One of the key factors behind the happiness gap appears to be the connection to traditional institutions such as marriage and religion. While 51% of conservative women are married, only 31% of liberal women have married. Also, more than half of conservative women attend church weekly, compared with only 12% of liberal women.

"Marriage and religion provide purpose, community and stability, aspects that can contribute to greater emotional well-being," the report concludes.

The analysis also found that liberal women are more likely to process events with a negative interpretation, which, according to writer Matthew Yglesias, is "exactly what depression is." This tendency toward catastrophic thinking could be affecting their emotional health, exacerbating their sense of isolation and lower satisfaction with life.