The American Psychological Association (APA) released a poll on Nov. 6 that found more than six in 10 U.S. adults say societal division is a significant source of stress in their lives.

The survey, conducted online by The Harris Poll on behalf of the APA among more than 3,000 participants aged 18 and up, found that 54 percent of U.S. adults reported feeling isolated from others, while 50 percent said they have lacked companionship “often or some of the time.”

Roughly 62 percent reported societal division as a major source of stress in their lives, with 61 percent of that group saying they felt isolated often or some of the time. Nearly seven in 10—69 percent—said they needed more emotional support in the past year than what they received, which is an increase of four percentage points from 2024, the APA said.

The association noted that the growing gap between emotional needs and the support available shows the challenges adults face in recognizing their need for connection but struggling to find it.

“This year’s findings show that people across the nation are not just feeling divided, they’re feeling disconnected,” APA CEO Arthur C. Evans Jr. said in a statement. “Research tells us that a sense of isolation and social fragmentation can have real consequences for our ability to manage stress and stay healthy.”

Societal division may have intensified respondents’ feelings of loneliness, and it could have a sizable impact on adults’ health and well-being, according to the poll.

The APA noted that its data “paints a troubling picture of U.S. adults stretched thin between societal division and personal disconnection.”

Roughly 60 percent of those who cited societal division as being a significant source of stress in their lives were more likely to lose patience with family members, and 53 percent said they struggled to plan for the future due to stress.

Those who report feeling high levels of loneliness were more likely to also struggle with their physical and mental well-being than those who are less lonely, the data showed. Those symptoms include depression, sadness, nervousness, anxiousness, fatigue, and headaches.

Evans said the research shows that loneliness and isolation may increase one’s risk of premature mortality and are also linked with depression, poor sleep, and cognitive decline.

“We also know that social support is one of the strongest predictors of people’s well-being, reinforcing that connection is vital to our health,” he said. “Reaching out, showing up, and building community are not optional; they’re essential.”

Many people also expressed feeling concerned about the future of the country, with 75 percent saying they are more stressed about America’s future than they used to be.

“When asked what America represents today, respondents most commonly chose terms that reflected a mix of hope and disillusionment: freedom (41%), corruption (38%), opportunity (37%), division (36%), hope (35%), and fear (32%),” the APA said.