Young, Black Adults Experience More COVID-19 Stress

Stress and anxiety brought on by COVID-19 are increasing worldwide, with the inability to interact with loved ones and increased periods of isolation contributing to a growing number of people reporting decreased mental health. A new survey shows young, Black adults in the U.S. are experiencing higher levels of coronavirus-related stress than others.

In the Health Tracking Poll from the Kaiser Family Foundation, 53 percent of U.S. adults said worry and stress from the coronavirus has had a negative impact on their health. Women responded higher than men at 57 percent compared to 50 percent, while 68 percent of Black adults and 62 percent of those between the ages of 18-29 said worry and stress has had a negative impact on their health. For Black Americans, that’s a 17-percentage point increase over Hispanic and white respondents.

Ongoing data shows minorities in the U.S. are more likely to suffer from all aspects of COVID-19. Data directly from the CDC shows predominantly Black counties and populations as having nearly three times higher infection rates than white counties while also being over three times more likely to die from the disease. This data, along with new research into how it’s unequally affecting mental health, shows how potential systemic discrimination and poor policy are causing COVID-19 to affect low-income and minority neighborhoods at higher rates.