Skip to main content

Safety Is Top Source of Anxiety Reported by U.S. Adults

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com.

By Lori Solomon HealthDay Reporter

MONDAY, May 15, 2023 -- Seven in 10 U.S. adults say they feel anxious or extremely anxious about keeping themselves or their families safe, according to the results of a survey released by the American Psychiatric Association.

This poll was conducted from April 20 to 22, 2023, using a sample of 2,201 adults. Safety was the top reported concern (70 percent), and in the previous month, the percent of adults who said they felt very anxious about gun violence increased 5 percentage points to 42 percent. More than one-third of adults (37 percent) said they felt more anxious than they were at the same time last year. Other sources of anxiety included keeping their identity safe (68 percent), health (66 percent), and paying bills or expenses (65 percent). Less than one-third (30 percent) of respondents said they had talked with a mental health care professional about mental health issues.

"Even as we end the public health emergency, people remain anxious about their safety," Rebecca W. Brendel, M.D., J.D., president of the American Psychiatric Association, said in a statement. "The impact of this stress means that psychiatrists will need to continue to work with the communities they serve, the larger mental health field, and policymakers to ensure those who need care can access it."

More Information

Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.

© 2024 HealthDay. All rights reserved.

Read this next

Physical Activity in Middle Age Improves Health Among Women

FRIDAY, May 3, 2024 -- Adherence to physical activity guidelines during middle age appears to improve health-related quality of life among women, according to a study...

Diabetes Increases Risk for Functional Limitations in Older Adults

FRIDAY, May 3, 2024 -- Older adults with diabetes are more likely to develop functional limitations than adults without diabetes, according to a study published online April 16 in...

2020 Cancer Screening Rates Low at Federally Qualified Health Centers

FRIDAY, May 3, 2024 -- In 2020, there were major gaps in screening clients at federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) for various types of cancer when compared with the general...

More news resources

Subscribe to our newsletter

Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.