Examining the American mindset on community well-being: insights from a national survey

Abstract Background The United States is experiencing a crisis of well-being, characterized by increasing social isolation, hopelessness, and diseases of despair. Traditional well-being measurement has focused on individuals, overlooking community and collective dimensions that are critical for understanding and addressing broader societal challenges. This study aims to identify the factors most strongly associated with perceptions of community well-being and to explore the relationship between individual and community well-being. Methods We analyzed data from the 2023 National Survey of Health Attitudes (NSHA), a nationally representative survey of 5,620 U.S. adults. The survey assessed individual subjective well-being using the Cantril Ladder and gathered ratings of overall community well-being as well as perceptions of 13 specific factors related to community conditions and connections. Descriptive statistics, correlations, and logistic regression models were used to examine associations between well-being measures and demographic characteristics and factors related to community conditions and connections. Results Ratings of individual subjective well-being were generally aligned with other national surveys. Perceptions of community well-being varied by income, age, education, and race/ethnicity. Individual well-being did not significantly predict perceptions of community well-being. Among community conditions, access to outdoor spaces (OR = 2.49), healthy food (OR = 1.68), and health care (OR = 1.39), and safe drinking water (OR = 1.24) were significantly linked to higher community well-being ratings, while transportation infrastructure was negatively associated (OR = 0.76) and affordable housing was not a significant predictor. For community connections, trust among members (OR = 2.08) and mutual support (OR = 1.73) were the strongest predictors, with collaboration for health (OR = 1.31) also showing a significant association. Other community connection factors, such as diversity celebration and participation in decision-making, were not significant. These results emphasize the importance of both physical resources and social infrastructure for community well-being. Conclusion Multidimensional measures that capture both individual and community well-being, informed by an understanding of mindsets, are essential for identifying actionable drivers of thriving communities. Integrating subjective and objective indicators can help local leaders and policymakers monitor well-being, set priorities, and design interventions that foster resilience and collective flourishing in the face of ongoing societal challenges.