More than half of Americans say their lives are a struggle, according to a new poll that shows U.S. citizens are finding life increasingly difficult. “In January of 2008, 49 percent of Americans were thriving, 47 percent struggling and four percent were suffering. In November and December, 38 percent were thriving, 58 percent struggling and four percent suffering,” Gallup scientist Jim Harter commented on findings of the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index. “The 11-point swing in struggling Americans represents more than 22 million people,” Harter said on Gallup's website. The survey questioned at least 1,000 US adults each day last year, starting in January. They were asked to score six aspects of their lives, including how they rate their current lives and where they think they will be in five years. Gallup said that a “major drop off” occurred in November and December when the U.S. economy went into freefall.
