FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday December 12,
2007
All
references must be sourced WNBC/Marist Poll
Contact: Dr. Lee M. Miringoff
Dr. Barbara L. Carvalho
845.575.5050
National
Poll:
Americans
Resolve to Change…Themselves
This WNBC/Marist Poll reports:
·
This New
Year Americans resolve to begin anew.
Many Americans intend to turn over a new leaf this January. This New Year’s goals include losing weight, kicking
the cigarette habit, being a better person, or spending less money in 2008. One in five women would like to lose weight
and 18% of men want to quit smoking.
Question Wording: What is it that you resolve to do or not to do in the New Year?
|
Americans Who Intend to Make a Resolution This
Year |
|
||||||
|
Lose weight |
17% |
Increase family time |
3% |
||||
|
Stop smoking |
17% |
Go back to school |
3% |
||||
|
Be a better person |
14% |
Be kinder to others |
2% |
||||
|
Spend less money |
11% |
Improve health |
2% |
|
|||
|
Get better job |
5% |
Buy a new house |
2% |
||||
|
Eat healthier |
5% |
Stop drinking |
1% |
||||
|
Exercise more |
4% |
Get closer to God |
1% |
||||
|
Use time better |
4% |
Other |
7% |
||||
|
Set goals |
3% |
|
|
||||
Top Three Resolutions |
|
||||||
Women
|
|
Men
|
|
|
|||
|
Lose weight |
20% |
Stop smoking |
18% |
|
|||
|
Be a better person |
17% |
Spend less money |
14% |
|
|||
|
Stop smoking |
16% |
Lose weight |
13% |
|
|||
· Men are less likely than women to set a New Year’s goal. 43% of Americans resolve to start with a clean slate this New Year, similar to the 44% who did so last year. 49% of women this year compared with 37% of men report intentions to make a New Year’s resolution this year. Adults under age forty-five are more likely than those forty-five or older to view January as a time to make a change.
Question Wording: Are you very likely, somewhat likely, or not likely at all to make a New Year's resolution?
|
Americans |
Very or Somewhat Likely |
Not Likely At All |
|
2007 |
43% |
57% |
|
Women |
49% |
51% |
|
Men |
37% |
63% |
|
Age 18 to 44 |
52% |
48% |
|
Age 45 or older |
36% |
64% |
|
2006 |
44% |
56% |
|
2004 |
35% |
65% |
|
2003 |
34% |
66% |
|
2002 |
39% |
61% |
|
2001 |
44% |
56% |
|
2000 |
40% |
60% |
|
1999 |
37% |
63% |
|
1998 |
38% |
62% |
|
1997 |
37% |
63% |
· Women are less likely to stick to their resolutions. Six in ten of those Americans who made a New Year’s resolution last year kept at least part of it. Women who set a New Year’s goal were less likely than men to keep it.
Question Wording: Did you keep it? (Asked of those who made a resolution last year)
|
Americans
Who Made a Resolution Last Year |
Yes |
No |
|
2007 |
60% |
40% |
|
Women |
56% |
44% |
|
Men |
63% |
37% |
This survey was conducted October 29th through November 1st, 2007. 1,102 adults 18 years of age or older within the continental United States were interviewed by telephone. Telephone numbers were selected based upon a list of telephone exchanges from throughout the nation. The exchanges were selected to ensure that each region was represented in proportion to its population. The results of the entire survey are statistically significant at ±3%. The margin for error increases for cross-tabulations.