Lifestyle

38% Say Their Doctor Has Recommended a Lifestyle Change

Most American Adults have received a physical examination within the past 12 months, and more than a third say their doctor recommended that they change some bad habits. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 83% of American Adults visit the doctor at least once a year, This includes 40% who visit a few times a year and nine percent (9%) who go monthly or more. Just 15% say they rarely or never visit the doctor. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on July 6-7, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

66% Rate Their Health As Good or Excellent

Most American adults continue to rate their own health positively, but one-in-five say they’ve gained weight over the past six months.

Sixty-six percent (66%) of American Adults rate their own overall health as good or excellent, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. That’s down slightly from last year but generally in line with findings two years ago. Just seven percent (7%) say they are in poor health. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on July 6-7, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

58% Consider Fourth of July One of Nation’s Most Important Holidays

Independence Day still ranks among the most important holidays to Americans, and one-out-of-four plan to travel this holiday weekend.

Fifty-eight percent (58%) of American Adults consider the Fourth of July one of the nation’s most important holidays, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Only four percent (4%) look at the Fourth of July as one of the least important holidays, while 37% rate it somewhere in between.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The national telephone survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted by Rasmussen Reports on June 29-30, 2014. The margin of sampling error for the survey is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Fieldwork for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

46% Say U.S. Nation With Liberty and Justice For All

While most Americans wouldn’t want to live in any other country, they remain skeptical about whether the United States is a nation “with liberty and justice for all”.

Just 46% of U.S. Adults now agree with the closing line of the Pledge of Allegiance, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Just as many (45%) do not think America is a nation with liberty and justice for all. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 American Adults was conducted on June 29-30, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

78% Know Why We Celebrate Independence Day

A large majority of Americans is still aware that Independence Day celebrates the signing of the Declaration of Independence, but they are still more shaky on one of the central tenets of that document.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 78% of American Adults know that the Fourth of July celebrates the signing of the Declaration of Independence, while just eight percent (8%) think it commemorates the ratification of the U.S. Constitution instead. (To see survey question wording, click here.) 

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The national telephone survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted by Rasmussen Reports on June 27-28, 2014. The margin of sampling error for the survey is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Fieldwork for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

86% Are Proud to Be American

Most U.S. adults remain proud of America and its history, but belief that the United States is mankind’s last best hope continues to fall.

Eighty-six percent (86%) of U.S. Adults are proud to be American, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Just four percent (4%) disagree. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The national telephone survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted by Rasmussen Reports on June 27-28, 2014. The margin of sampling error for the survey is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Fieldwork for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

59% Think Summer Camp Important for Young People

School’s out, and most Americans consider summer camp a good alternative.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 59% of American Adults think it’s at least somewhat important for young people to go to a summer camp. Thirty-nine percent (39%) disagree. This includes 20% who view summer camp as Very Important and 10% who say it's Not At All Important. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 American Adults was conducted on June 25-26, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

50% Favor a Government College Rating System

President Obama plans to implement a government rating system that will tie a college's performance in several areas including the earning power of its graduates to federal student financial aid. While Americans like the idea of a government rating system for colleges, they don’t trust the government to do it fairly.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 50% of American Adults favor a government college rating system. Twenty-eight percent (28%) oppose such a rating system, while 22% are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here).

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The survey of 1,000 American Adults was conducted on June 23-24, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology. 

33% Say Government Should Forgive Student Loans After A Certain Period of Time

President Obama recently announced that he will use his executive power to expand debt relief programs for those with student loans, including loan forgiveness after 10 or 20 years in the workforce. Americans are only slightly more supportive of forgiving loans after a given period of time than they are of forgiving all student loans, and most say lowering tuition costs would do more for college students than making loans easier to access.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 21% of American Adults think the federal government should forgive all student loans. This finding is unchanged in surveys going to back to 2011. Sixty-seven percent (67%) of adults think the federal government should not forgive all students loans, also in line with findings from 2011. Eleven percent (11%) are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here).

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The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on June 23-24, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

54% Say There’s Too Much Emphasis on Standardized Testing in Schools

Americans continue to believe standardized testing should not be the chief measure of how well a school is performing. 

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 54% of American Adults think schools place too much emphasis on standardized testing these days. That's up five points from 49% in November. Only 17% don’t think schools place enough emphasis on standardized testing, while just as many (15%) think the level of emphasis is about right. Another 14% are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 American Adults was conducted on June 21-22, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

60% Don’t Think Washington Redskins Should Change Their Name

The Washington Redskins professional football team is under growing pressure from Native American activists and politicians from President Obama on down to change its name. Last week, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in a two-to-one vote canceled the team’s trademark on the grounds that it is “disparaging to Native Americans.” But most Americans nationwide agree with the team's owner Daniel Snyder that a name change is not necessary, and those who follow pro football the most are even more opposed.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that only 26% of American Adults believe the Washington Redskins should change their name in light of complaints that it is offensive. Sixty percent (60%) don’t think the team should change its name. Fourteen percent (14%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 American Adults was conducted on June 19-20, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Most Still Think Soccer Has A Long Way To Go in U.S.

While nearly eight million people tuned into Monday’s U.S. vs. Ghana World Cup match, Americans do not think soccer will reach the level of popularity it has around the world any time soon in this country.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 19% of American Adults think that, in five years, soccer will be as popular in the United States as it is around the world. Fifty-nine percent (59%) say soccer will not reach the same heights of popularity in America in that time period. Twenty-one percent (21%) are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 American Adults was conducted on June 17-18, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 4 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

39% Will Watch World Cup This Year

Most Americans do not plan on watching the World Cup soccer championships again this year, but if the U.S. team is able to advance to the finals, a majority says it will tune in.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone finds that 39% of American Adults will watch the World Cup this year, the highest level of interest to date. More than half (53%) do not plan on watching the international soccer tournament. Eight percent (8%) are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 American Adults was conducted on June 17-18, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 4 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

68% Consider Fatherhood A Man’s Most Important Role

Father’s Day ranks lower than ever in terms of importance to Americans, but most still agree on the importance of fatherhood itself.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that only 10% of American Adults consider Father’s Day one of America’s most important holidays. Twenty-six percent (26%) rate it as one of the least important holidays, while 61% place it somewhere in between the two. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on June 9-10, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Most Think School Children Should Honor the Flag Every Day

Most Americans say their families regularly display the U.S. flag on holidays, and even more believe children should honor the flag every morning in school. They also think school children should say the Pledge of Allegiance each day, including the phrase that America is one nation "under God."

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 60% of American Adults say they or someone in their family displays the flag on most national holidays, up from 56% in August of last year.  Thirty-six percent (36%) do not. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 American Adults was conducted on June 7-8, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

78% Want to Keep ‘The Star Spangled Banner’ As National Anthem

This year marks the 200th anniversary of the writing of “The Star-Spangled Banner,” and Americans remain intensely loyal to the song that's been our official national anthem since 1931.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 90% of American Adults say they know the words to the anthem, and only 14% think it’s too hard to sing. Seventy-seven percent (77%) don’t think it’s too difficult. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 American Adults was conducted on June 7-8, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

85% Express Major Privacy Concerns About Google Glass

Google Glass, a wearable computer with optical head-mounted display, became available to the public on May 15, and Americans overwhelmingly expect these computers to routinely violate the privacy of others.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone surveys finds that just 14% of American Adults believe that wearable computers like Google Glass are not likely to violate others' privacy, including six percent (6%) who say it is Not At All Likely. But 85% disagree, with 67% who say this is Very Likely. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 American Adults was conducted on June 3-4, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

39% Would Take a Commercial Space Flight

Virgin Galactic has announced that it will begin commercial passenger space flights as early as this year, and four out of 10 Americans are open to the idea.

Thirty-nine percent (39%) of American Adults say they would travel into space on a commercial space flight if they could afford it, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Fifty-five percent (55%), however, would not. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The national survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on June 3-4, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Fieldwork for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC . See methodology.

45% Think Media Coverage Encourages Copycat Killers

Americans tend to believe the media pay too much attention to mass murders and that their coverage prompts others to commit violent crimes.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 44% of American Adults believe the media cover mass murders like the one in southern California too much, while just 13% say they don’t cover them enough. One-in-three (33%) says the level of media coverage is about right. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The national survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on May 30-31, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Fieldwork for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC . See methodology.

Fewer Americans Will Cut Their Summer Vacation Spending

Just as many Americans will be taking a summer vacation this year, but fewer will be cutting back on how much they spend.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 44% of American Adults plan to take a summer vacation this year. That's consistent with surveying for the last couple years. The number of summer vacationers fell into the 30s following the Wall Street meltdown in 2008. (To see question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 American Adults was conducted on May 26-27, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 4 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.