America’s Stress Forecast: Survey Shows Cost of Living, Sleep Loss, and Loneliness Are Driving Stress in 2026

Stress is no longer an occasional part of life for many Americans. It has become a regular, disruptive force that affects how people sleep, work, connect with others, and care for their mental health.

To better understand how stress is showing up across the country, AMFM Healthcare surveyed 2,000 U.S. adults about their current stress levels, what is driving them, and the ways they are coping. The results reveal a population under significant strain. Nearly three in four Americans say they feel stressed on a regular basis, and more than three in four say their overall stress level has increased over the past year.

The data also points to a growing mental health challenge shaped by cost of living pressures, work stress, physical health concerns, sleep disruption, loneliness, and barriers to care.

Stress Is Widespread and Still Rising

The survey found that 72.7 percent of Americans agree that they feel stressed on a regular basis. Even more concerning, 76.4 percent agree that their overall stress level has increased over the past year.

This data suggests that stress is not just common. For many people, it is intensifying. Rather than being tied to one temporary event, stress appears to be woven into daily life, fueled by multiple pressures at once.

Cost of Living, Work, Caregiving, and Health Are Driving Stress

When asked about the major sources of stress in their lives, respondents pointed to several overlapping issues:

• 82.2 percent agree that the cost of living is a major source of stress in their life.
• 70.5 percent agree that work-related stress negatively affects their mental health.
• 59.4 percent agree that caregiving responsibilities (for children, parents, or others) contribute to their stress.
• 73.69 percent agree that concerns about their physical health contribute to their stress levels.

These findings show that stress is often cumulative. Financial pressure, professional demands, caregiving roles, and health concerns can build on one another, making it harder for people to recover emotionally.

Sleep, Loneliness, and Disconnection Are Taking a Toll

The survey also highlights how stress affects day-to-day wellbeing and emotional resilience.

• 77.1 percent agree that stress has negatively affected their sleep quality in the past year.
• 58.4 percent agree that feelings of loneliness have increased for them in the past year.
• 68.2 percent agree that they feel less socially connected than they would like to be.

Sleep and connection are both essential to mental health. When stress disrupts rest and increases isolation, it can make it harder for people to regulate emotions, stay engaged, and seek support.

Social Media Is Adding to the Pressure for Many

The survey suggests that social media plays a complicated role in how people experience stress.

• 50.8 percent agree that social media increases their stress or anxiety.
• 53.2 percent agree that comparing themselves to others on social media negatively affects their mental wellbeing.
• 48.7 percent agree that scrolling social media makes it harder for them to relax or
  unwind.

While social platforms can offer distraction or connection, they may also heighten anxiety, reinforce comparison, and make it more difficult to mentally switch off.

Americans Are Using a Mix of Healthy, Harmful, and Emerging Coping Tools

Respondents reported turning to a range of strategies to manage stress.

• 69.1 percent agree that they use exercise or physical activity to cope with stress.
• 46.8 percent agree that they use alcohol or cannabis to manage stress.
• 31.4 percent agree that they have used AI tools or chatbots to cope with stress or mental health concerns.

These findings reflect a coping landscape that is changing. Many Americans are using healthy outlets like exercise, but a significant number are also relying on substances or digital tools to help manage emotional strain.

The use of AI tools and chatbots is especially notable. While these tools may offer convenience or a sense of immediate support, they are not a replacement for clinical care when someone is dealing with persistent stress, anxiety, depression, or other mental health concerns.

Many People Would Seek Help if Care Were More Accessible

The survey also found that willingness to seek support is there, but barriers remain.

• 61.6 percent agree that they would consider seeking professional mental health support if it were more accessible.
• 55.3 percent agree that cost is a barrier preventing them from seeking mental health care.
• 49.9 percent agree that long wait times or lack of available providers have delayed them from seeking mental health support.
• 62.2 percent agree that stigma makes it harder to seek mental health care.

Taken together, these responses show that many Americans are open to getting help, but practical and social obstacles continue to stand in the way.

Weather and Environment Also Affect Mental Health

Stress is not always driven by finances or relationships alone. For many people, environmental factors also matter.

• 53 percent agree that the weather in their area negatively affects their mental health.

This finding points to the many ways mood and mental wellbeing can be shaped by a person’s surroundings, routines, and daily environment.