Frustration vs Optimism: How America Feels in 2025

What We're Showing

YouGov has been tracking how Americans feel each week since late 2020. The survey asks if people have experienced a spectrum of emotions over the past week, and participants can select multiple options.

Key Takeaways

• Negative responses have been increasing steadily throughout the year and are now approaching pandemic levels. Positive feelings dipped at the beginning of the year, and have held steady since.
• A prime example of this divergence is charted above – frustration versus optimism. Feelings of frustration have increased by 15 percentage points since the beginning of the year.

Why do you think negative feelings are on the rise in America?