The survey also found respondents in poor or fair health registered higher levels of worry, sadness and anger than those in better health, with those in poor health twice as likely as those in excellent health to feel increased anxiety and anger.
Broken out by age levels, adults 18 to 34 years old were more affected emotionally than those 35-64 and 65 years and older. Younger adults led those in the older age categories in feelings of greater worry, 69.4% for 18-34, 64.5% for 35-64 and 52.9% for 65 and older; sadness, 50.2% to 47.6% to 35.5%; and loneliness 53% to 41.6% to 35.5%.
When marital status was considered, parents living with children were most likely to experience increased worry with 70.1% acknowledging greater anxiety due to COVID-19, followed by those married at 63.1%, single at 63.1% and parents in general at 60.6%.
Singles were more likely to feel angrier, at 34.8%, and sadder, at 49%, compared to married couples and parents, with a majority, 53.8%, feeling increased loneliness, compared to parents with at-home children at 38.5%, parents at 36.8% and married couples at 33.5%.
When political orientation was considered, Democrats registered higher levels of emotional reaction to COVID-19 with a majority feeling increased worry, 71.8%, sadness, 53.3%, and loneliness, 52.2%. Among Republicans and independents, increased worry was the only emotional reaction registered by a majority, at 56.6% of Republicans and 58.3% of Independents.
