Stress in America 2023: A nation recovering from collective trauma

Stress in America 2023: Collective Trauma and Long-Term Health

• Core Finding: The APA identifies a "collective trauma" among Americans, where the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic—compounded by inflation, global conflict, racism, and climate disasters—has created lasting psychological and physical health impacts.
• Physical and Mental Health Trends:
  • Chronic Illness: 66% of adults report a diagnosed chronic illness, yet 81% still rate their physical health as "good or better."
  • Mental Health Diagnoses: 37% of adults report a diagnosed mental health condition (up from 32% in 2019), primarily anxiety (24%) and depression (23%).
  • Age-Specific Impact (35–44): This cohort saw the sharpest increases in chronic illness (48% to 58%) and mental health diagnoses (31% to 45%) since 2019.
  • Age-Specific Impact (18–34): This group reports the highest rate of mental illness (50% in 2023).
• Barriers to Coping:
  • Downplaying Stress: 67% of adults feel their problems are not "bad enough" to warrant stress compared to others.
  • Isolation: 62% do not discuss stress to avoid burdening others; 66% felt they needed more emotional support in the last year.
  • Stigma/Access: Barriers to seeking help include beliefs that therapy is ineffective (40%), lack of time (39%), and lack of insurance (37%).
• Primary Stressors:
  • Societal: Future of the nation (68%), violence/crime (61%), U.S. debt (57%), and mass shootings (56%).
  • Personal: Health-related issues (65%), the economy (64%), and money (63%).
  • Media/Politics: 50% are stressed by news coverage, and 59% are stressed by political discourse failing to address their priorities.
• Future Outlook: Stress is actively hindering long-term planning; 28% of adults have struggled to plan for the future, and 33% feel too stressed to even think about it.
• Physiological Risks: Chronic stress keeps the body on "high alert," contributing to inflammation, immune system degradation, digestive issues, heart disease, and stroke.