Cost of Living, Sleep Issues and Loneliness Driving Stress Levels Nationwide
Krissy Vann | Host, All Things Fitness and Wellness
Stress is becoming less of a temporary feeling and more of a constant state for many Americans. New survey data from AMFM Healthcare suggests that nearly three in four U.S. adults are experiencing stress on a regular basis, with mounting financial pressures, poor sleep, loneliness, and even environmental conditions contributing to an increasingly layered mental health challenge.
The national survey of 2,000 U.S. adults found that 72.7% of Americans report feeling stressed regularly, painting a picture of a population navigating multiple overlapping pressures rather than a single source of strain.
Cost of living emerged as the most significant stress driver, with 82.2% of respondents citing it as a major concern. The impact appears to be extending into other areas of life as well. More than three quarters of respondents, or 77.1%, said stress has negatively affected their sleep quality.
Social connection is also becoming a growing concern. Nearly 58.5% of respondents reported increased feelings of loneliness, suggesting emotional well being challenges are stretching beyond financial worries alone.
“Stress today isn't coming from one place, it's layered,” said Ted Guastello, CEO of AMFM Healthcare. “Financial pressure, poor sleep, and loneliness are already taking a toll, and when environmental factors like weather are added in, it helps explain why stress can feel so persistent and difficult to manage.”
The survey also highlighted an often overlooked factor influencing mental health: the environment itself. More than half of respondents, 53%, said weather negatively affects their mental health.
Regional findings suggest this impact varies across the country. The Midwest reported the highest influence of weather on mental health at 60.2%, alongside widespread sleep disruption. In the Northeast, respondents were more likely to associate stress with loneliness and social isolation, while residents in the South and West pointed more heavily toward financial pressures.
How Americans are responding to stress appears to be shifting as well.
Exercise remains one of the most common coping strategies, with 69.2% of respondents reporting they use physical activity to manage stress. The finding aligns with a growing body of evidence around the connection between movement and mental health and reinforces why many fitness operators continue positioning exercise as part of a broader wellness conversation rather than simply a physical health tool.
At the same time, the survey suggests many Americans are also turning toward potentially less constructive coping habits. Nearly half of respondents, 46.7%, reported using alcohol or cannabis to manage stress. Social media also appears to be creating tension rather than relieving it for some users, with 50.8% saying it increases their stress or anxiety.
Perhaps one of the most notable findings for the health and wellness sector is the increasing role of technology in emotional support. Nearly one in three Americans, or 31.5%, said they have used AI tools or chatbots to cope with stress.
“We're seeing people fill gaps in care however they can,” said Guastello. “AI tools are accessible and available 24/7, which makes them appealing, but they're not a replacement for human care. This reflects a bigger issue: people are looking for support, but the system isn't always meeting them where they are.”
The findings arrive as employers, healthcare providers, and wellness companies continue expanding conversations around mental health support. However, AMFM Healthcare noted that barriers including cost, long wait times, and stigma continue preventing many people from seeking traditional care, leaving individuals to navigate stress largely on their own.
