Americans Are Seriously Anxious Heading Into the 2025 Holiday Season

Summary: AAPA poll and Healthy Minds poll indicate rising anxiety about economy, healthcare, and holiday-specific stresses, with younger adults more affected and grief, gifts, and family dynamics as key concerns. The end-of-year period negatively impacts mental health for about one in five respondents.

Overview

A recent poll conducted online among a representative sample of adults found that most Americans are anxious about the economy, with substantial worry also directed at healthcare and holiday stress. The data was collected in early November 2025, with a small margin of error.

Key Anxiety Areas

Economy — 75% report being very or somewhat anxious about the economy.
Healthcare — 71% report anxiety about healthcare.

Holiday-Specific Stress

About 41% of respondents expect more seasonal stress this year, up from 28% in 2024 and 29% in 2023. Younger adults (18–34) anticipate holiday stress more than older adults (49% vs. 27%). Top worries include missing a loved one or grief (48%), affording or finding gifts (46%), concerns about family dynamics (32%), and loneliness (31%). Overall, 20% say the holidays negatively impact their mental health.

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Demographic Insights

Younger adults are more likely to anticipate holiday stress than seniors, indicating age-related differences in vulnerability to seasonal pressures.

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Context and Methodology

The APA poll was conducted via online interviews with more than 2,200 adults between November 4–5, 2025, with a margin of error ±2 percentage points. It is part of a broader set of polls tracking mental health indicators over the year.

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Quotes and Citations

“A new American Psychiatric Association poll found a majority of adults are worried about the economy, and holiday stresses aren’t far behind.”

“When asked specifically about the upcoming holidays, 41 percent of respondents anticipate more seasonal stress this year — a significant increase compared with 2024 (28 percent) and 2023 (29 percent).”

Author's Note

Author’s summary: The findings underline rising economic and healthcare anxiety, with holiday-related stress peaking among younger adults and grief or financial concerns driving the strongest worries during the season.