Most of the Public Overall Say Worry and Stress Related to the Pandemic is Causing Ill Effects, Including Lost Sleep, Loss of Appetite or Overeating, and Difficulty Controlling Temper

5 years ago

With many businesses shut down and job losses mounting nationwide, just over half of the nation’s workers (55%) now say they have lost a job or had their incomes reduced as a result of the health and economic crises sparked by the novel coronavirus pandemic, the latest KFF Health Tracking poll finds.

This includes a quarter (26%) of all those who were working on Feb. 1 who say they lost a job and another 7% who say they got furloughed, as well as those who say their work hours have been reduced (21%) or that they have had to take a pay cut (13%).

Among those who were working part-time in February, three-quarters (76%) report a lost job or income. The shares are also higher-than-average among those who are paid by the hour or the job (68%) and those with low (65%) or moderate (62%) incomes.

In addition to those who personally experienced a coronavirus-related job or income loss, 16% say they have a spouse or partner who has lost their job, had hours reduced, took pay cut, or been furloughed. In total, 42% of all U.S. adults say they or their spouse or partner has been affected in such ways.

For many, the loss of a job and income is affecting the ability to keep up with their bills.

Among affected workers, more than a third (36%) say they have fallen behind in paying their credit card and other bills. About a quarter say they have had problems paying their utility bills (27%) or fallen behind on their rent or mortgage (25%), and one in five report problems paying for food (21%). Smaller shares say they have had trouble affording health insurance (13%) or prescription drugs (5%).

“The economy right now is crushing workers, and many are piling up bills and debts,” KFF President and CEO Drew Altman said. “Their optimism that things will turn around by the Fall may be wishful thinking.”

Nearly half (46%) of those in households that had a job or income loss since February say they have experienced at least one of those financial difficulties since then.

Among the public at large, three in 10 (31%) report at least one of those financial difficulties as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Those most likely to report such problem include black (57%) and Hispanic (42%) adults, those with low annual incomes at or below $40,000 (40%), and younger adults ages 18-29 (39%).

Most Affected Workers Expect Their Situations to Improve Within the Next Six Months

In spite of these job setbacks and financial troubles, affected workers are mostly optimistic that things will return to normal for them this year. Eight in 10 (83%) of those affected say they expect to be hired back, return to their previous salary or income, or get their hours back in the next six months.

Less than half of those who lost their job or were laid off say their former place of employment is still open for business (39%) while most say it is closed temporarily (56%). Just 2% say their former place of employment has closed permanently.

Worry and Stress Related to Coronavirus are Affecting Most People’s Mental and Physical Health

Among the public overall, more than half (56%) say that worry and stress related to the coronavirus situation are leaving some marks on their mental and physical well-being.

This includes four in 10 who cite problems with their sleep and one in three who report overeating or a loss of appetite. Smaller shares say coronavirus worry or stress is causing frequent headaches or stomachaches (18%), difficulty controlling their temper (15%), increased alcohol or drug use (13%), or worsening chronic health conditions (9%).

The coronavirus outbreak’s impact on mental health and well-being also seems to be affecting a larger share of those who experienced a loss of employment income.

Two-thirds of those who say they or their spouse have lost their job or income (65%) say that worry or stress related to the coronavirus outbreak has caused them to experience at least one adverse effect on their mental or physical health in the past two months.

Designed and analyzed by public opinion researchers at KFF, the poll was conducted April 15-20, 2020 among a nationally representative random digit dial telephone sample of 1,202 adults. Interviews were conducted in English and Spanish by landline (261) and cell phone (941). The margin of sampling error is plus or minus 3 percentage points for the full sample. For results based on subgroups, the margin of sampling error may be higher.