APA Stress in America 2026: 47% of US adults pulled back socially because of stress
The American Psychological Association’s 2026 Stress in America survey, conducted by The Harris Poll, found that 77% of US adults cite the cost of living as a significant source of stress and 47% pulled back from at least one form of social engagement in the past year because of stress, uncertainty or feeling overwhelmed.
What happened
The survey was conducted online by The Harris Poll on behalf of APA between 29 July and 24 August 2026 among 3,132 adults aged 18 and over.
Significant sources of stress included the cost of living (77%) and the future of the nation (74%). 72% agreed that “stress is just something I have to live with”, 72% said bad news no longer shocks them as it used to, and 68% said they had become accustomed to living with uncertainty. 59% felt they were doing everything “right” but still falling behind, and 56% said they had lowered their expectations for what they could achieve.
47% said they had pulled back from at least one form of social engagement over the past year because of stress, uncertainty or feeling overwhelmed. Among respondents who use AI, 49% said they had had conversations with AI as a friend and 47% had used it in a role comparable to a mental health professional; one in ten relied on AI more than friends and family for advice.
Why it matters
APA’s CEO, Arthur C. Evans Jr., said becoming accustomed to chronic stress is not the same as adapting to it healthily, and that AI’s accessibility should not be confused with expertise. For practitioners, the findings place stress in its economic and social context and raise questions about clients’ use of AI for emotional support.
The AI figures describe AI users in the sample, not all US adults. The survey reports what respondents said; it does not show that stress caused each change, or that AI provides safe or effective care. Results apply to the US.
Source
- American Psychological AssociationStress in America 2026 news release