Typology: Perspectives on Families in America Survey

About the survey and typology

The Perspectives on Families in America survey explores the views of U.S. adults towards families with young children and their needs. It also identifies differences in public views about the deservingness of families with low income, the importance of systemic-level causes for the lack of social resources, and the role of government in addressing problems that families with young children face. This typology was created to discover the pattern of values and beliefs related to addressing those resource problems—low incomes, lack of access to affordable and healthy food, and lack of access to child care and preschool programs.

The survey was conducted by NORC at the University of Chicago with support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Survey data were collected in 2021 from a general population sample of U.S. adults age 18 and older with oversamples of parents of children ages 0-5 years old, Asian/Pacific Islanders, and American Indian/Alaska Natives from the NORC probability-based panel, AmeriSpeak. In total, NORC collected 6,207 responses.

The six groups

19%
Systems Change Advocates

This group is most supportive of societal efforts to promote child and family health.

22%
Systems Change Supporters

This group is also supportive of child and family health promotion efforts, but a bit less so.

19%
Concerned Realists

This group is supportive overall but embraces both systemic and family-level causes and solutions when considering how to address the problems facing families with young children.

11%
On the Sidelines

This group is skeptical about child and family health promotional efforts. It sees them as less important for the nation.

16%
Status Quo Accepters

This group is skeptical across-the-board about child and family health promotional efforts.

13%
Status Quo Defenders

Like Status Quo Accepters, this group is skeptical across-the-board about the issues.

Learn more about each group

Where Does Your Audience Fit?

This chart shows how the six segments differ in their values and beliefs. It shows whether each segment is more or less likely than U.S. adults in general to embrace particular types of values and beliefs.

Explore the findings

Choose to view the findings by table or by a set of scales.

Table View Scale View
Much more likely
More likely
Neutral
Less Likely
Much Less likely
Question Systems Change Advocates Systems Change Supporters Concerned Realists On the Sidelines Status Quo Accepters Status Quo Defenders
Belief that all children in the U.S. have the same opportunity to thrive
Much Less likely
Less Likely
Less Likely
More likely
More likely
Much more likely
Top priority for government to ensure all young children have an opportunity to thrive
More likely
Neutral
Much more likely
Less Likely
Less Likely
Much Less likely
Belief in societal causes for children not thriving
Much more likely
More likely
More likely
Less Likely
Less Likely
Much Less likely
Belief in family-level causes for children not thriving
Less Likely
Neutral
Much more likely
Much Less likely
More likely
More likely
Government should have the most responsibility for problem families without enough income
More likely
Neutral
Neutral
Less Likely
Less Likely
Much Less likely
Agree the government should do more to help families without enough Income, even if it costs U.S. taxpayers more
Much more likely
More likely
More likely
Less Likely
Less Likely
Much Less likely
Agree families without enough income should not receive special help if their problems stem from their own poor choices
Much Less likely
Less Likely
More likely
Less Likely
More likely
Much more likely
Agree with the idea the world is not always fair
Less Likely
Less Likely
Much more likely
Much Less likely
More likely
More likely

Belief that all children in the U.S. have the same opportunity to thrive

Status Quo Defenders
Much more likely
On the Sidelines
Status Quo Accepters
More likely
Neutral
Systems Change Supporters
Concerned Realists
Less Likely
Systems Change Advocates
Much Less likely

Top priority for government to ensure all young children have an opportunity to thrive

Concerned Realists
Much more likely
Systems Change Advocates
More likely
Systems Change Supporters
Neutral
Concerned Realists
Status Quo Accepters
Less Likely
Status Quo Defenders
Much Less likely

Belief in societal causes for children not thriving

Systems Change Advocates
Much more likely
Systems Change Supporters
Concerned Realists
More likely
Neutral
On the Sidelines
Status Quo Accepters
Less Likely
Status Quo Defenders
Much Less likely

Belief in family-level causes for children not thriving

Concerned Realists
Much more likely
Status Quo Accepters
Status Quo Defenders
More likely
Systems Change Supporters
Neutral
Systems Change Advocates
Less Likely
On the Sidelines
Much Less likely

Government should have the most responsibility for problem families without enough income

Much more likely
Systems Change Advocates
More likely
Systems Change Supporters
Concerned Realists
Neutral
On the Sidelines
Status Quo Accepters
Less Likely
Status Quo Defenders
Much Less likely

Agree the government should do more to help families without enough Income, even if it costs U.S. taxpayers more

Systems Change Advocates
Much more likely
Systems Change Supporters
Concerned Realists
More likely
Neutral
On the Sidelines
Status Quo Accepters
Less Likely
Status Quo Defenders
Much Less likely

Agree families without enough income should not receive special help if their problems stem from their own poor choices

Status Quo Defenders
Much more likely
Concerned Realists
Status Quo Accepters
More likely
Neutral
Systems Change Supporters
On the Sidelines
Less Likely
Systems Change Advocates
Much Less likely

Agree with the idea the world is not always fair

Concerned Realists
Much more likely
Status Quo Accepters
Status Quo Defenders
More likely
Neutral
Systems Change Advocates
Systems Change Supporters
Less Likely
On the Sidelines
Much Less likely

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understanding the groups

Systems Change Advocates

This group is most supportive of societal efforts to promote child and family health. The group is completely aligned on all issues that are pro-child and family including in the view that the major causes of income, healthy food, child care, and preschool access problems are systemic in nature and not due to factors the families have control over. The group believes that society—specifically the government—has a role to play in addressing these problems. It tends to be more civically engaged on children’s and family issues.

Read More
Media use

Most likely to trust almost all media sources for information about current events and issues related to U.S. families. They have particularly high levels of trust for outlets including the New York Times, MSNBC, CNN, PBS, NPR, and network radio news and are least likely to trust Fox News.

Demographic Characteristics

More likely to be female, Black, younger, more highly educated, and earn higher incomes. Most likely to identify as LGBTQ.

Values and Beliefs
Much Less likely

Belief that all children in the U.S. have the same opportunity to thrive

More likely

Top priority for government to ensure all young children have an opportunity to thrive

Much more likely

Belief in societal causes for children not thriving

less likely

Belief in family-level causes for children not thriving

More likely

Government should have the most responsibility for problem families without enough income

Much more likely

Agree the government should do more to help families without enough Income, even if it costs U.S. taxpayers more

Much more likely

Agree the government should do more to help families without enough Income, even if it costs U.S. taxpayers more

Much Less likely

Agree families without enough income should not receive special help if their problems stem from their own poor choices

less likely

Agree with the idea the world is not always fair

Much more likely
More likely
Neutral
less likely
Much Less likely

Systems Change Supporters

This group is also supportive of child and family health promotion efforts, but a bit less so. It is less likely than Systems Change Advocates to believe the issue should be a top federal government priority and that the child care/preschool access problem has a major impact on children. Its views about societal responsibility for the problems facing families with young children resemble those of U.S. adults generally but it is less likely to see a role for government. It is less civically engaged on children’s and family issues.

Read More
Media use

More likely to trust almost all media sources for information about current events and issues related to U.S. families, with the exception of people they follow on social media and Fox News, which they are slightly less likely to trust.

Demographic Characteristics

Almost equally male/female, more likely to be younger, to be of Hispanic ethnicity or Asian race, and to have low income.

Values and Beliefs
less likely

Belief that all children in the U.S. have the same opportunity to thrive

Neutral

Top priority for government to ensure all young children have an opportunity to thrive

More likely

Belief in societal causes for children not thriving

Neutral

Belief in family-level causes for children not thriving

Neutral

Government should have the most responsibility for problem families without enough income

More likely

Agree the government should do more to help families without enough Income, even if it costs U.S. taxpayers more

less likely

Agree families without enough income should not receive special help if their problems stem from their own poor choices

less likely

Agree with the idea the world is not always fair

Much more likely
More likely
Neutral
less likely
Much Less likely

Concerned Realists

This group is supportive overall but embraces both systemic and family-level causes and solutions when considering how to address the problems facing families with young children. It is more likely to question the deservingness of families with low income. While it sees a role for society to play, it has mixed views about government involvement. Concerned Realists resemble U.S. adults generally in their degree of civic engagement on children’s and family issues.

Read More
Media use

More likely to trust information about current events and issues from all media sources. They are most likely of all groups to trust people they follow on social media.

Demographic Characteristics

Slightly more likely to be older, most likely to be female, non-White, to have achieved lower levels of education, to earn lower incomes, not be married, and to not own their homes. Less likely to report identifying as LGBTQ+.

Values and Beliefs
less likely

Belief that all children in the U.S. have the same opportunity to thrive

Much more likely

Top priority for government to ensure all young children have an opportunity to thrive

More likely

Belief in societal causes for children not thriving

Much more likely

Belief in family-level causes for children not thriving

Neutral

Government should have the most responsibility for problem families without enough income

More likely

Agree the government should do more to help families without enough Income, even if it costs U.S. taxpayers more

More likely

Agree families without enough income should not receive special help if their problems stem from their own poor choices

Much more likely

Agree with the idea the world is not always fair

Much more likely
More likely
Neutral
less likely
Much Less likely

On the Sidelines

This group is skeptical about child and family health promotional efforts. It sees them as less important for the nation. Interestingly, it also tends to reject both systemic and family-level causes and solutions when considering the problems faced by families with young children. The group is more likely to see a role for society in addressing the problems but wants the private sector, not government, to take on the responsibility. The group is less likely to be civically engaged on child and family issues.

Read More
Media use

Less likely to trust most media sources, with the exception of people they follow on social media, which they are slightly more likely to trust, and Fox News, where they resemble other U.S. adults.

Demographic Characteristics

More likely to be male, of Hispanic ethnicity or identify as “other” race, younger, have low income, and have achieved less education.

Values and Beliefs
More likely

Belief that all children in the U.S. have the same opportunity to thrive

less likely

Top priority for government to ensure all young children have an opportunity to thrive

less likely

Belief in societal causes for children not thriving

Much Less likely

Belief in family-level causes for children not thriving

less likely

Government should have the most responsibility for problem families without enough income

less likely

Agree the government should do more to help families without enough Income, even if it costs U.S. taxpayers more

less likely

Agree families without enough income should not receive special help if their problems stem from their own poor choices

Much Less likely

Agree with the idea the world is not always fair

Much more likely
More likely
Neutral
less likely
Much Less likely

Status Quo Accepters

This group is skeptical across-the-board about child and family health promotional efforts. It is less likely to see them as important and more likely to embrace family-level causes and solutions for the problems faced by families with young children. This group is more likely to question whether low-income families with children deserve government help and to be less civically engaged.

Read More
Media use

One of two groups most likely to somewhat or completely trust Fox News for information about current events and issues related to U.S. families. They are less likely to trust all other media sources.

Demographic Characteristics

Equally likely to be male or female, generally more likely to be White, older, married, and own their own homes. Much less likely to report being LGBTQ.

Values and Beliefs
More likely

Belief that all children in the U.S. have the same opportunity to thrive

less likely

Top priority for government to ensure all young children have an opportunity to thrive

less likely

Belief in societal causes for children not thriving

More likely

Belief in family-level causes for children not thriving

less likely

Government should have the most responsibility for problem families without enough income

less likely

Agree the government should do more to help families without enough Income, even if it costs U.S. taxpayers more

More likely

Agree families without enough income should not receive special help if their problems stem from their own poor choices

More likely

Agree with the idea the world is not always fair

Much more likely
More likely
Neutral
less likely
Much Less likely

Status Quo Defenders

Like Status Quo Accepters, this group is skeptical across-the-board about the issues. The main difference is one of degree—there is more unanimity on the issues within this group than in the Status Quo Accepters.

Read More
Media use

One of two groups most likely to trust Fox News for information about current events and issues related to U.S. families, however, they are least likely to trust all the other media sources, including television, newspaper, radio, and social media. Distrust of MSNBC and CNN was notable in this group.

Demographic Characteristics

Most likely to be White, male, married, older in age, and to own their own home. More likely to earn a higher income and have achieved some college or a bachelor’s degree. Least likely to report LGBTQ sexual orientation.

Values and Beliefs
Much more likely

Belief that all children in the U.S. have the same opportunity to thrive

Much Less likely

Top priority for government to ensure all young children have an opportunity to thrive

Much Less likely

Belief in societal causes for children not thriving

More likely

Belief in family-level causes for children not thriving

Much Less likely

Government should have the most responsibility for problem families without enough income

Much Less likely

Agree the government should do more to help families without enough Income, even if it costs U.S. taxpayers more

Much more likely

Agree families without enough income should not receive special help if their problems stem from their own poor choices

More likely

Agree with the idea the world is not always fair

Much more likely
More likely
Neutral
less likely
Much Less likely

Resources

Perspectives on Families in America Survey Final Report

Includes key findings, methodology, and results from the survey.

Download the Report
Perspectives on Families in America Survey Typology Brief

A deep dive into the typology groups and the values and characteristics that make up each.

Download the Brief
Perspectives on Families in America Deservingness Brief

Explores beliefs about families in need and their deservingness.

Download the Brief
Perspectives on Families in America Topline Tables

Provides tabled data from the survey.

Download the Tables

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