Nearly 80% of Americans think their children may end up with worse lives — up from around 40% who said the same thing 20 years ago

• Americans have lost confidence that their children will be better off than they are, according to a new poll. 
• A collaboration between the Wall Street Journal and NORC, the poll underscored a pessimistic outlook on the US economy. 
• Nearly 80% of respondents said they "do not feel confident" in their children's future. 

Americans' confidence that they are leaving a better world for their children is dwindling. 

According to a new Wall Street Journal/NORC poll conducted this month, a majority of people believe their children's lives may be worse than their own. In a question posed to 1,019 respondents, 78% said they "do not feel confident" their children will be better off.