American Stress Statistics: Exploring The Prevalence Of Stress

Stress is a natural reaction in the nervous system that can keep humans and animals safe by providing the fight-or-flight response. However, when stress becomes long-term (chronic), it can be overwhelming and can contribute to a number of physical and mental health concerns. Looking at American stress statistics may help you feel less alone with your stress and determine which strategies may help you relieve it. It may also encourage you to get help building coping skills to deal with the effects of immense stress in your own life.

What is stress?

Stress can be difficult to measure and quantify, and everyone experiences it differently. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), stress can be defined as “a state of worry or mental tension caused by a difficult situation.”

There are a few types of stress often studied, including the following.  

Acute stress

Acute stress is often referred to as the fight-or-flight response and might happen in a life-threatening or scary situation. It can feel overwhelming and taxing on your mind and body. However, acute stress is temporary and may not last long after the event, as long as an individual is safe. In cases of acute stress disorder, when an individual reacts to a traumatic experience, the emotional toll can lead to post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD.

Chronic stress

Chronic stress, or experiencing elevated stress over longer periods, is one of the common types and is the type of stress discussed in the stress statistics below. Some might see chronic stress as the cost of daily living, though some of these life events can be a significant source of persistent stress that can lead to stress disorders in certain situations. Chronic stress might be caused by the following: 

• Work-related stress
• Parenting
• School 
• Family conflict
• Financial distress 
• Relationships 
• Societal stressors
• Mental health conditions 

For young adults and high school students, there is now an additional source of chronic stress in the form of mass shootings. More than half (75%) of Gen Z reported experiencing stress about mass shootings. This is unsurprising as these kinds of shootings are at an all-time high in our nation’s history.

Eustress

Eustress refers to standard stress levels and is often interpreted as beneficial. Some might explain it as nervous excitement caused by positive events like:  

• Expecting a baby
• Getting married 
• Anticipating a promotion at work

Prevalence and major sources of stress in the U.S. 

Statistics for stress in America shed light on how people perceive the causes of stress in their lives. For example, in 2017, the American Psychological Association (APA) released findings on common sources of stress for Americans and found the following: 

• 63% of participants reported concern about the country's future, possibly because a presidential election had just concluded.
• 62% reported stress caused by money issues. 
• 61% said work was a stressful issue for them. 
• 57% reported that the political climate was causing them stress, potentially due to the concluded presidential election. 
• 51% said that crime and violence were sources of stress.

A more recent iteration of the APA’s stress survey was conducted online in 2020 and prompted warnings of a national mental health crisis. The survey showed that in addition to other factors, the Covid 19 pandemic was a contributing factor to a significant uptick in stress percentage points, especially for Gen Z.

The latest version of the APA’s Stress in America survey, published in 2025, revealed societal division in the nation to be a major source of stress for many U.S. adults. The survey was conducted online by The Harris Poll among more than 3,000 U.S. adults ages 18 and older, and it found that 62% of American adults reported societal division as a significant source of stress in their lives. In addition, concerns about the country’s future have continued to be a major stressor for many individuals. For instance, more than half of parents (53%) said they have considered relocating to another country due to the state of the nation. The 2025 survey also found that overall stress levels among adults have remained fairly consistent with previous years; however, certain age groups, particularly young adults, have reported more stress related to the spread of misinformation and the rise of artificial intelligence (AI). For young adults ages 18-34, 65% reported stress related to AI, up from 52% the previous year.

Interpreting these mental health statistics

In addition to stress caused by the political climate, which may vary from term to term, work and money are commonly cited as some of the top sources of stress for many Americans. 

Many individuals find it difficult to avoid work-related stress. They may feel they must take whatever work is available to support themselves and their families; they might want a different job, which could cause increased stress. Others might not like their coworkers, daily commute, or workload, regardless of whether they enjoy their job. As money is also connected to work, household income not equaling a living wage can significantly stress many Americans. 

Are these statistics cause for concern?

In 2017, according to the statistics above, over half of the respondents were commonly worried about work, money, and politics. In 2020, nearly half of adults reported that their behavior had been negatively affected by stress, and individuals have reported increased tension in relationships due to stress. And in 2025, the statistics revealed a pervasive sense of loneliness, made more pronounced by the sense of societal division. In fact, half of U.S. adults reported feelings of emotional disconnection, saying that they have felt isolated from others (54%), felt left out (50%), or felt that they have lacked companionship (50%) often or some of the time. 

Understanding how stress data is collected and measured

To fully understand the weight and meaning of this data, it may be helpful to understand how it was collected and measured by digging into the methodology of the 2025 Stress in America survey. 

For starters, the survey was conducted online in the United States among 3,199 adults aged 18+ who reside in the U.S.—this is considered the “national sample.” Oversampling allowed for increased totals by race/ethnicity (Black, Latino/a/e or Latinx, and Asian), and the total sample also included 81 individuals who identified as only Native American or Alaskan Native/Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, though that falls below the standard threshold for reporting. Interviews for Latino respondents were conducted in English and Spanish. 

After conducting the survey, the data were then weighted to reflect proportions in the population; these weighting variables included age by gender, race/ethnicity, education, household income, region, frequency of internet use, and political party affiliation. 

Stress disparities across race and ethnicity

When discussing stress in the U.S., it is also important to note that certain groups may be exposed to greater stressors than others. Researchers have found that minority groups report a higher stress burden than their white counterparts. In particular, some research has found that older Black adults and Hispanics were more likely to be exposed to a greater number of ongoing chronic stressors relative to white adults. 

How stress impacts mental and physical health

Unresolved elevated stress can affect one’s overall health and long-term well-being. It can contribute to health concerns like chronic illness, such as high blood pressure and heart disease, which is often considered the number one health concern in the U.S. Increased numbers of chronic diseases can also put undue stress on the healthcare system. Understanding the side effects of stress, affecting both mental and physical health, can help you understand the long-term impact. It can make a difference to discuss any medical concerns you have with your healthcare provider to have a better perspective on your well-being. Potential effects of long-term stress include the following: 

• Aches and pains
• Insomnia, sleepiness, or trouble sleeping
• Changes in social behavior 
• Lack of energy
• Upset stomach
• Unfocused thinking
• Changes in appetite
• Increased substance use*
• Differences in emotional responses to others
• Unexpected mood changes
• Emotional withdrawal
• Diseases like heart disease, high blood pressure, arthritis, metabolic syndrome, and type II diabetes
• Addiction to food, gambling, or internet use
• Mood and anxiety disorders
• Workplace accidents

*If you are struggling with substance use, contact the SAMHSA National Helpline at (800) 662-4357 to receive support and resources.

How to manage chronic stress 

If you're experiencing chronic stress or associated symptoms, using stress-management strategies might help you reduce its impact on your life. Below are some common tactics that can help manage stress:  

• Getting regular exercise
• Maintaining a healthy diet
• Utilizing effective time management strategies
• Setting realistic goals
• Practicing sleep hygiene 
• Enjoying leisure activities (cooking, dancing, playing games, or hiking)
• Using stress-reduction methods (deep breathing, gardening, socializing, or reading)
• Practicing mindfulness (meditation or mindful breathing)
• Reducing or limiting your social media usage
• Seeking emotional support from a trusted friend, family member, or mental health professional

How therapy can help 

If you're unsure where to start addressing your stress-related problems, a therapist can help you devise a plan to reduce and manage your stress levels. If you can't afford or don't have time for in-person therapy, you can also try online therapy, which has been shown to be as effective as in-person therapy for many people. In addition, it gives you a more diverse selection of therapists and allows you to meet with your professional on your schedule. 

Online stress management programs can help you improve your capacity to cope with stress while decreasing stress levels. In addition, online therapies are shown to help with depression, anxiety, and loneliness, as well as stress