Upbeat Americans.(Opinion Pulse)

Nearly eight in ten Americans consider themselves optimists, and 80 percent say they wake up happy in the morning. Nearly two in ten say they are always happy, and another 61 percent say that they feel that way most of the time. Nearly nine in ten Americans say they have never visited a psychologist, therapist, psychiatrist, or other mental health professional. Many surveys, like the ones below, show that Americans are more upbeat than their European counterparts.

 
Question: Do you ...? 
 
Consider myself   79% 
an optimist        6% 
It depends        15% 
don't know 
Do not 
 
Note: Table made from pie chart. 
 
Question: Do you generally ...? 
 
Wake up happy   80% 
It depends 
don't know       6% 
Do not          14% 
 
Note: Table made from pie chart. 
 
Question: We're interested in the way people feel 
these days. Would you say you are ...? 
 
Happy most of the time    61% 
Not very often             5% 
Just some of the time     16% 
Just about all the time   17% 
 
Source: Schulman, Ronca. Bucuvalas/Time. December 2004 
 
Note: Table made from pie chart. 
 
Question: Using your best estimate, how many times ...? 
 
Have not visited a psychologist, therapist,  ...