As Americans head to the polls in the 2026 midterm elections, concerns about affordability, economic uncertainty, and the future of the country remain widespread. While the APA survey on stress in America did not identify specific world events as causes of stress, ongoing geopolitical conflicts, economic volatility, and rising everyday costs have been frequent topics of public discussion surrounding financial anxiety and household budgets.
Cost of Living Leads the APA’s 2026 Stress Findings
The American Psychological Association’s Stress in America™ 2026 report, published Oct. 22, found that 77% of Americans cite the cost of living as a significant source of stress, the single most frequently named pressure in this year’s survey. The report, which examines how uncertainty is shaping stress levels nationwide, draws on a survey of 3,132 Americans ages 18 and older conducted online by The Harris Poll on behalf of the APA.
The findings suggest many Americans are balancing concerns that range from paying monthly bills to uncertainty about the country’s future. Financial pressures dominated the survey, but broader concerns about the direction of the nation remained nearly as widespread.
The Numbers Behind The Stress In America 2026 Report
- 77% of adults named cost of living as a significant source of stress, the top-cited factor.
- 74% cited concerns about the future of the nation.
- 74% pointed to the economy in general, down slightly from 75% in 2025.
- 71% said money is a significant stressor, up from 63% in 2023.
- 60% identified health care as a significant source of stress.
- 47% said they pulled back from at least one form of social participation over the past year because of stress, uncertainty or feeling overwhelmed.
The survey also included oversamples of 801 Black adults, 803 Latino/a/e adults, and 827 Asian adults, giving the APA’s Stress in America 2026 report a broader demographic picture than a standard national sample.
What The Trend Lines Show
The economy-as-stressor figure has risen sharply over the past several survey cycles. It stood at 64% in 2023, jumped to 73% in 2024, rose again to 75% in 2025, and now sits at 74% in 2026, essentially flat compared with last year after two years of sharp increases.
Money as a standalone stressor shows a similar pattern. The 71% figure for 2026 marks a jump of eight percentage points from the 63% recorded in 2023. Taken together, the figures show that financial concerns remain among the most commonly cited sources of stress in the United States, with cost-of-living pressures, broader economic worries, and personal money concerns all ranking near the top of the survey. Carrier Management coverage of the report highlighted similar trends identified in the APA’s findings.
What It Means For Everyday Life
For many Americans, these numbers reflect experiences that extend far beyond a household budget. Rising prices for groceries, housing, transportation, and other necessities may show up as financial stress on a survey, but the effects often spill into everyday decisions. Nearly half of respondents, 47%, said they had stepped back from at least one form of social participation during the past year because of stress, uncertainty, or feeling overwhelmed.
That finding suggests stress extends beyond financial concerns alone. It may influence how often people see friends and family, participate in community activities, pursue hobbies, or maintain routines that were once part of everyday life. The APA’s broader findings reinforce that point.
Nearly three-quarters of Americans said stress is just something they have to live with, while 68% reported becoming accustomed to uncertainty. Together, those responses suggest many Americans are adjusting their expectations around uncertainty rather than anticipating a quick return to normalcy. While the survey does not establish that financial concerns directly caused people to withdraw socially, it does suggest that economic pressure, uncertainty, and emotional strain are influencing how many Americans engage with the world around them.
What’s Next
Although concern about the economy eased slightly from 75% to 74% over the past year, financial pressures remain among the most frequently cited sources of stress in the country. Whether those concerns begin to ease or become more deeply embedded in daily life will likely be a key question in future editions analyzing stress in America. For now, the report’s broader message may be less about stress levels alone and more about adaptation.
Large numbers of Americans report becoming accustomed to uncertainty, raising broader questions about how prolonged stress may influence relationships, future expectations, and overall well-being.
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