Sources of stress: 2019-2021

This infographic from APA's Stress in America^TM Survey report for October 2021, “Stress and decision-making during the pandemic,” shows sources of stress from 2019-2021, with the percentage of respondents indicating that a particular item was a very/somewhat significant source of stress. The percentages are broken down by year.

The data breakdown for sources of stress is as follows:

Work [among those employed]

In 2021, 66% of respondents reported that work was a very/somewhat significant source of stress. In 2020, 64% of respondents reported that work was a very/somewhat significant source of stress. In 2019, 64% of respondents reported that work was a very/somewhat significant source of stress.

Money

In 2021, 61% of respondents reported money as a very/somewhat significant source of stress. In 2020, 64% of respondents reported money as a very/somewhat significant source of stress. In 2019, 60% of respondents reported money as a very/somewhat significant source of stress.

The economy

In 2021, 59% of respondents reported the economy as a very/somewhat significant source of stress. In 2020, 63% of respondents reported the economy as a very/somewhat significant source of stress. In 2019, 46% of respondents reported money as a very/somewhat significant source of stress.

Family responsibilities

In 2021, 57% of respondents reported family responsibilities as a significant source of stress. In 2019, 58% of respondents reported family as a very/significant source of stress. In 2019, 55% of respondents reported family responsibilities as a significant source of stress.

Personal health concerns

In 2021, 52% of respondents reported personal health concerns as a very/significant source of stress. In 2020, 57% of respondents reported personal health concerns as a very/significant source of stress. In 2019, 50% of respondents reported personal health concerns as a very/significant source of stress.

Health problems affecting my family

In 2021, 51% of respondents reported health problems affecting family as a very/significant source of stress. In 2020, 55% of respondents reported health problems affecting family as a very/significant source of stress. In 2019, 49% of respondents reported health problems affecting family as a very/significant source of stress.

Relationships (e.g., spouse, kids, girl/boyfriend)

In 2021, 51% of respondents reported relationships as a very/significant source of stress. In 2020, 52% of respondents reported relationships as a very/significant source of stress. In 2019, 49% of respondents reported relationships as a very/significant source of stress.

Housing costs (e.g., mortgage or rent)

In 2021, 51% of respondents reported housing costs as a very/significant source of stress. In 2020, 48% of respondents reported housing costs as a very/significant source of stress. In 2019, 45% of respondents reported housing costs as a very/significant source of stress.

Personal safety

In 2021, 44% of respondents reported personal safety as a very/significant source of stress. In 2020, 50% of respondents reported personal safety as a very/significant source of stress. In 2019, 35% of respondents reported personal safety as a very/significant source of stress.

Job stability

In 2021, 43% of respondents reported job stability as a very/significant source of stress. In 2020, 46% of respondents reported job stability as a significant source of stress. In 2019, 40% of respondents report job stability as a very/significant source of stress.

Discrimination

In 2021, 32% of respondents reported discrimination as a very/significant source of stress. In 2020, 33% of respondents reported discrimination as a very/significant source of stress. In 2019, 25% of respondents reported discrimination as a very/significant source of stress.