The year 2020 could be called the Age of Anxiety. Three topics—the pandemic, the election, and the interrelated issues of racial justice and police violence—have many Americans on edge, stressed out about how these topics are playing out in their lives, their country, and the world at large.
Remedy Review looked at the American Psychological Association’s Stress in the Time of COVID-19 survey and chose 10 statistics from the three themes. The survey, released in July 2020, was conducted between June 23 and July 6, 2020, among 3,010 U.S. adults over the age of 18. The responses were weighted to reflect current population demographics in the United States, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
Being stuck inside for months has gotten on the nerves of most. “Pandemic fatigue” has hit many hard and resulted in riskier behaviors just as we move into winter, traditionally a time when viruses thrive. While some have been wooed into a sense of security by talk of upcoming vaccines, others have seen the impact of COVID-19 on their own health and lives, or those of friends, family members, and coworkers.
Politics is often an argument-inducing topic, but even more so this year, when roommates and family members who might not agree are pent up together, and many face the added stressors of economic hardships or health problems. The result has been rampant unfriending on social media (and in real life), plus actual violence breaking out in public spaces between those who can’t find a common ground.
Some reached their breaking point after the police killings of George Floyd and other Black Americans after years of such incidents. Many American cities were home to marches, and some saw weeks of nonstop protests. Public opinion of the demonstrations varied, with many agreeing with the goals of protesters and their First Amendment rights and others viewing the actions as disrespectful of law enforcement and impediments to living their everyday lives.
Keep reading to learn more about stress during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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1 / 10Both parties agree it is stressful to be around people who do not take COVID-19 preventive measures
Beyond all the other tribulations of 2020, 87% of Democrats and 66% of Republicans worry because they think others aren’t taking the pandemic seriously. Nonprofit health care advocate Providence offers pointers about how to cope with our own emotions and phrase our concerns in a way that resonates with those on the other side. The organization’s website urges the public to remember we’re all viewing the world through a different lens.
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2 / 1086% of Democrats and 75% of Republicans believe people are acting like COVID-19 is over
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3 / 1058% of Americans want more information on how to stay healthy as the country reopens
More than half (58%) of Americans want more information about staying safe as the pandemic wears on. Though we have access to pointers on how to protect ourselves, the ever-changing knowledge about the virus means that recommendations have to constantly be updated.
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4 / 10The amount of uncertainty in the country is a source of stress for most adults
The majority of adults in the U.S. (76% of Democrats and 67% of Republicans) are anxious about the unknown this year, whether their worry is about the election, their health, the economy, or other things. NPR reported on some election-specific ways to reduce stress, but most are also relevant to anxiety induced by other topics.
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5 / 10The current US political climate is also a significant stressor
More than two-thirds of Americans (77% of Democrats and 62% of Republicans) are worried about what has become an especially divisive election cycle. Even back in March, almost half of the workers surveyed were experiencing “election stress disorder,” and current stats suggest the situation is now far worse.
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6 / 10Americans' stress levels are decreasing
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7 / 10But feelings of frustration, anger, and fear are increasing
Surviving 2020 may come down to learning how to move into the psychological space of thriving, as mindset can help navigate emotions like anger, fear, and frustration. Harvard Business Review has some suggestions.
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8 / 10Midwestern adults are more likely to report feeling frustrated and angry over COVID-19
Some of the most significant increases in COVID-19 case numbers at the end of October were in the Midwest as hospitalizations and deaths skyrocketed and COVID-19 hit major cities and entire regions. Kansas, Iowa, and South Dakota saw single-day records for cases on Oct. 27. So it’s understandable that Midwest adults report feeling frustrated and angry at rates more than 10% higher than some other parts of the country.
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9 / 1060% of adults say police violence toward people of color is a significant stressor
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10 / 10The government's response to protests is a source of stress for 64% of adults
Beyond the violence that was the impetus for nationwide protests, almost two-thirds (64%) of Americans polled in the study are not coping well with government responses to the demonstrations. Amnesty International is in the camp that argues that police aren’t protecting protesters, while others approve of the “law and order” approach, even when it results in harm to citizens across a range of political perspectives. Both sides are stressed.
