Pair of UC Riverside studies find that most Inland Empire residents "say they are struggling"

A pair of new studies conducted by UC Riverside suggest that most Inland Empire residents are "struggling to get by."

The research was conducted by the university's Center for Community Solutions. More than 3,300 residents in the sprawling area, located mostly southeast of Los Angeles, responded to the two surveys, which uncovered both "troubling disparities and hopeful signs of community cohesion," said a news release from UC Riverside.

"While the levels of well-being fell below national averages, Inland residents were more likely than other Americans to feel a sense of belonging in their communities," the release said.

Sunset aerial view of downtown Riverside, California. Getty Images

One of the surveys, called the "Insights on Vital Conditions in the IE," asked participants to r