APA’s latest national poll found that half of adults have higher levels of anxiety than last year, with money matters and current events tied as the top concerns.

By The Numbers

• Among 2,201 adults surveyed by Morning Consult on behalf of APA, 48% said they are more anxious now than they were last year; 32% had about the same level of anxiety, 12% said their anxiety was lower, and 8% were unsure.
• Most adults reported being anxious about current events, paying bills and expenses, and keeping themselves and their families safe (62%, 62%, and 60%, respectively).
• Among current events, the economy topped the list of concerns. Other common anxiety-inducers included the 2026 Iran war, health care, gun violence, international conflict, and hate speech/hate crimes.
• There was increasing concern about the role of emerging technologies in relationships and in mental health care, with 53% reporting anxiety about its impact (up from 44% in 2025).
• There was a significant increase in loneliness: 42% of adults reported experiencing loneliness at least once a week (up from 33% in 2025). 

More than one in four adults (28%) said they’d talked with a mental health professional in the past year, and 60% said there is less stigma against people with mental illness. In addition, one in three adults said they’d be willing to talk to an AI chatbot instead of a mental health professional if they were struggling.

Just be nice to people around you and try to give them a break for their issues.