Economic pressure in the U.S. isn't just straining budgets — it's taking a serious emotional toll. AffordableHousingHub.org surveyed 1,000 U.S. adults to understand how inflation, housing instability, and nonstop news cycles are impacting mental health and daily life.

From Gen Z to renters, millions of Americans feel overwhelmed, disconnected, or too emotionally drained to act. Our findings reveal how cost-of-living stress is reshaping habits, information consumption, and emotional well-being.

Key Takeaways

One in three Americans reports experiencing significant financial stress.
Over half of Gen Z (55%) and Millennials (57%) have experienced anxiety or panic due to financial pressure.
43% have disengaged from news or online content, with Independents (35%) and Democrats (34%) reporting this behavior most often.
One in four Americans says they are too emotionally overwhelmed to act on issues they care about.
Renters are twice as likely as homeowners to feel trapped, anxious, or angry about housing.
13% of Americans say they cannot afford to prioritize their mental health.

Emotional Exhaustion in a Nation of Crisis

Americans are showing signs of deep fatigue in response to ongoing instability. Younger adults, women, and politically unaffiliated voters report some of the highest levels of burnout linked to economics, politics, and media saturation.

Half of Gen Z said they often or constantly feel emotionally overwhelmed. One in three women reported that following the news leaves them drained. Democrats and Independents were more likely than Republicans to say they feel hopeless, highlighting a split in how different groups process national events.

Single adults also reported higher levels of financial stress. They were 41% more likely than married adults to say money issues weighed them down, suggesting that personal support networks may shape emotional resilience.

The Cost of Living Isn’t Just Financial — It’s Emotional

Financial strain is affecting more than bank accounts. It's interfering with relationships, daily focus, and emotional well-being.

About 53% of Americans said financial stress has caused them trouble sleeping. More than one-third reported that it has affected their emotional health, and one in five said it has negatively affected their personal relationships.

Access to mental health care remains limited for many. Thirteen percent of Americans said they can't afford it, with Gen Z reporting the highest rate at nearly one in five. When care isn't accessible, reducing fixed costs like rent becomes one of the few available ways to regain emotional stability.

“We need to enact laws and opportunities as a country to help foster more affordable housing programs. This helps create stability in family and housing environments which leads to better outcomes for our children.”

— Lance Trimble, CEO, Affordable Housing Hub

Renters Are Reaching a Breaking Point

Housing instability is hitting renters especially hard. Compared to homeowners, they’re far more likely to feel stuck, anxious, or emotionally drained by the current housing landscape.

More than one in three Americans said they feel trapped by rising housing costs. One in four said they avoid looking at listings or housing news because it’s too discouraging. Among renters, 45% said they feel stuck, nearly twice the rate of homeowners (24%). This emotional toll leads many to retreat from the conversation entirely, hoping space will bring clarity or relief.

Emotional Disengagement Is Becoming a Survival Strategy

Tuning out isn’t a sign of apathy—it’s a response to overwhelm. For many Americans, emotional disengagement has become a necessary way to cope with constant stress and crisis fatigue.

Nearly two-thirds of Americans said they feel burned out by the news at least some of the time, with 29% saying it happens often. To protect their well-being, 43% said they had entirely stepped back from online content. Gen Z was the most likely generation to skip the news altogether. One in four Americans said they felt too emotionally overwhelmed to act on issues they care about, underscoring how exhaustion is reshaping civic engagement and digital behavior alike.

The Emotional Cost of Survival

As economic pressures mount, many Americans are losing the emotional bandwidth to keep up. For housing advocates and policymakers, this growing fatigue signals an urgent need: support systems must be emotionally accessible, not just financially sound.

Affordability today means more than balancing a budget—it means preserving the mental energy to stay engaged. Programs that offer clear instructions, minimal friction, and respect for people’s time can make all the difference. When emotional reserves are low, even small changes, like checking a housing waitlist once a month instead of daily, can help individuals stay connected without feeling overwhelmed.

Methodology

AffordableHousingHub.org surveyed 1,000 U.S. adults via Pollfish in May 2025 to measure emotional, financial, and behavioral responses to economic stress, housing conditions, and digital burnout. We stratified responses to reflect proportional sentiment across the U.S. population, with a margin of error of ±3.1%. Totals may not equal 100% due to rounding or multi-select responses.

About AffordableHousingHub.org

AffordableHousingHub.org is a mission-driven platform committed to making affordable housing more visible, accessible, and actionable. Through listings, guides, and original research, we help renters, advocates, and journalists understand the realities of housing in America.

Fair Use Statement

You are welcome to reference or republish these insights for noncommercial use, provided you credit AffordableHousingHub.org and link to the full study.