Final answer:
The severity of social problems in the US can vary, but unemployment rates are generally similar to other high-income countries, and families are perceived to be at least as close as in the past.
Step-by-step explanation:
The social problems in the US can range in severity, and whether they are more, less, or equally serious compared to other countries depends on various factors including the specific context and the specific issue assessed. When discussing unemployment rates, for instance, U.S. unemployment rates are typically in the same range as those in other high-income countries, implying that in this aspect, U.S. social issues concerning unemployment may be about the same in severity.
Additionally, research on familial relationships suggests that individuals feel their current family is at least as close as past generations, which may not necessarily align with the perceived seriousness of social issues across national contexts.