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APA 2021 Public Opinion Poll: Topline Results

Interviews: 1,000 U.S. Adults age 18 + - Dates: March 26, 2021 - April 5, 2021

Issue Questions

Q1-8. How anxious are you about each of the following?

Ranked by highest percentage.

  Combined Extremely and Somewhat Anxious 2021 Combined Extremely and Somewhat Anxious 2020 Extremely anxious Somewhat anxious Not that anxious Not anxious at all
Keeping myself or my family safe 64% 80% 27% 37% 25% 12%
COVID-19 (coronavirus) 65% 75% 32% 33% 22% 13%
My health 61% 73% 22% 39% 26% 12%
Paying my bills or expenses 55% 67% 24% 31% 22% 23%
The impact of climate change on the planet 48% 67% 18% 30% 29% 17%
My relationships with family, friends, and coworkers 47% 59% 18% 29% 29% 25%
The impact of climate change on my mental health 37% 55% 12% 25% 32% 31%

Q9. In general, are you more or less anxious than you were at this time last year?

  2021 2020
More anxious 41% 62%
Less anxious 21% 11%
About the Same 34% 24%
Not sure 4% 2%

Q10-16. Please indicate how much you agree or disagree with each of the following statements.

Ranked by highest percentage.

  Total Agree-2021 Total Agree-2020 Strongly agree Somewhat agree Neither agree nor disagree Somewhat disagree Completely disagree Don't Know
Someone's mental health has an impact on their physical health 80% 83% 50% 30% 12% 3% 2% 3%
Untreated mental illness has a significant negative impact on the U.S. economy 64% 69% 28% 36% 22% 7% 2% 5%
Untreated mental illness has a significant negative impact on families 79% - 50% 29% 14% 3% 1% 2%
There is less stigma against people with mental illness than there was 10 years ago 56% 57% 19% 37% 24% 9% 6% 6%
People with mental illness are far more likely to be victims of violence than be perpetrators of violence 44% 51% 18% 27% 33% 12% 6% 5%
I would NOT vote for a candidate for elected office who has been diagnosed with a mental illness, even if the candidate had been treated for it 36% 41% 16% 20% 30% 12% 16% 5%
Children and teens now have more mental health problems than they did 10 years ago 67% - 35% 33% 19% 5% 3% 5%

Q17. Are you fully vaccinated for the coronavirus?

Yes, fully vaccinated (completed one or two doses as required)

23%

Yes, partially vaccinated (completed only one out of two required doses)

21%

No, but I intend to get vaccinated

31%

No, I don't intend to get vaccinated

22%

Don't know

2%

Q18. [If answered "No, I don't intend to get vaccinated" or "Don't know" to Q17] Which of the following are reasons you do not want to be vaccinated? Please select all that apply.

I don't believe it's effective

31%

I am concerned about the side effects of the vaccine

53%

I am scared and anxious about needles

12%

The makers of the vaccine aren't being honest about what's in it

27%

Other reasons

16%

None of the above

10%

Q19-24. How much do you agree or disagree with the following statements?

Ranked by highest percentage.

  Total Agree - 2021 Total Agree - 2020 Strongly agree Somewhat agree Neither agree nor disagree Somewhat disagree Strongly disagree
I am anxious about the possibility of getting coronavirus 49% 47% 22% 27% 18% 17% 16%
I am anxious about the possibility of my family members and loved ones getting coronavirus 64% 56% 28% 36% 16% 10% 9%
I am anxious that I will become seriously ill or die if I get coronavirus 46% 42% 22% 23% 20% 15% 19%
I am anxious that I will spread coronavirus to my family and loved ones 44% 41% 19% 25% 21% 17% 18%
The coronavirus pandemic has had a serious impact on my mental health 43% 37% 18% 25% 21% 16% 20%
I no longer feel anxious about the possibility of getting coronavirus 43% - 18% 25% 24% 20% 12%

Q25. In what ways is the coronavirus pandemic NOW affecting your day-to-day life? Please select all that apply?

Ranked by highest percentage.

  2021 2020
I have been having trouble sleeping because I'm anxious about coronavirus 19% 22%
I have been having a hard time concentrating on other things because I'm thinking about coronavirus 18% 20%
I have been fighting more with my partner or loved ones (e.g., because we are stuck at home together) 16% 17%
I have been consuming more alcohol or other substances/drugs than I normally do 17% 14%
I am gaining weight 33% -
I am sleeping more now than before 21% -
None of the above 34% 52%

Q26. [If have children under 18 in the household] Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, has a child under 18 years old in your household received help from any of the following mental health professionals? Please select all that apply.

Psychiatrist

18%

Psychologist

15%

Primary Care

27%

Therapist

13%

Social worker

10%

School counselor or school psychologist

10%

Other

1%

None of the above

51%

Q27. [If have children under 18 in the household] Do you think the pandemic has caused problems with regard to the mental health of one or more children in your household…

Yes, caused major problems

19%

Yes, caused minor problems

29%

No, has not caused any problems

41%

No, has actually improved one or more children's mental health

6%

Don't know

5%

Q28-31. [If have children under 18 in the household] For each of the following, please answer Yes or No

  Yes No Don't know
The mental state of my child[ren] concerns me 53% 43% 3%
Because of the pandemic, I sought or am now seeking professional mental help for my child[ren] 26% 69% 5%
Before the pandemic, I sought professional mental health help for my child[ren] 29% 68% 3%
I have had difficulty scheduling appointments for my child[ren] with mental health professionals 22% 71% 7%

Q32. How much of a priority do you think policymakers in Washington, D.C. consider mental health? Do they consider mental health to be...?

  2021 2020
A top priority 17% 16%
Somewhat of a priority 33% 29%
Somewhat less of a priority 32% 34%
Not a priority 18% 21%

Demographic Questions

Q33. What is your age?

18-29

20%

30-44

25%

45-64

35%

65+

20%

Q34. What is your gender?

Male

48%

Female

52%

Non-Binary/Other

-

Q35. What is your race or ethnic background?

Hispanic or Latino

17%

African-American/Black

12%

Asian/Asian American

5%

White/Caucasian

65%

Other

1%

Q36. Do you identify as LGBTQ?

Yes

10%

No

85%

Prefer not to say

5%

Q37. In what state do you live?

Northeast

20%

Midwest

23%

South

34%

West

24%

Q38. What is the highest level of education you have completed?

Less than college education

68%

College graduate are more

32%

Q39. Last year, that is in 2020, what was your total household income from all sources, before taxes?

Under $50K

39%

$50K to $100K

30%

$100K and above: to 150K

32%

Q40. When it comes to politics, as of today, do you consider yourself to be…?

Republican and Leaners

38%

Independent

20%

Democrats and Leaners

42%

Q41. How would you define your benefit status as an employee?

Single, never married

28%

Married or domestic partnership

56%

Widowed

5%

Divorced

10%

Separated

1%

Q43. Do you have children under 18 years old who currently reside in your household?

Yes

34%

No

65%

Don't know

1%

Q44. In the past few years, have you talked with a mental health care professional about mental health issues?

Yes

34%

No

65%

Don't know

1%

Q45. [If yes to Q44] Do you have a regular mental health care professional that you see more than once a year?

Yes

70%

No

30%

Don't know

0%

Note: These findings come from an APA-sponsored online survey conducted March 26 - April 5, 2021, among a representative sample of 1,000 adults 18 years of age and older. The equivalent margin of error is +/-3.1 percentage points. Contact [email protected] for a copy of the crosstabs for the public opinion poll.

 

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