Poll: Inflation, war, and COVID-19 pushing stress to alarming levels

Editor's Note

Two years after the COVID-19 pandemic began, inflation, money issues, and the war in Ukraine have pushed US stress to alarming levels, according to the American Psychological Association (APA).

APA partnered with the The Harris Poll to conduct a survey between February 7 and 14, 2022, and again between March 1 and 3, 2022.

The top sources of stress revealed by the polls were:

• rise in prices of everyday items due to inflation (eg, gas, energy, and grocery costs) cited by 87%
• supply chain issues cited by 81%
• global uncertainty cited by 81%
• Russia’s invasion of Ukraine cited by 80%
• potential retaliation from Russia (eg, cyberattacks and nuclear threats) cited by 80%.

These stressors are coming at a time when the nation is still struggling with the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects on daily lives, with nearly 63% of those surveyed saying their lives have been forever changed by the pandemic.

“The survey findings make clear that US adults appear to be emotionally overwhelmed and showing signs of fatigue,” the authors say.