Roughly eight in ten try to avoid negative emotions in a typical week
Core finding
Most Americans (80%) say they want to avoid feeling negative emotions over the course of a typical week, and 36% agree strongly, according to a May 2026 Verasight survey of 474 U.S. adults.
About one-in-six (16%) are neutral, and just 5% disagree, including 1% who disagree strongly.
Topline scale
Roughly eight in ten try to avoid negative emotions in a typical week.
I WANT TO AVOID feeling negative emotions over the course of a typical week.
n = 474 · May 11, 2026 · MoE ±4.8%
Methodology
Full methodology →| Mode | Verasight panel recruited via random address-based sampling, random person-to-person text messaging, and dynamic online targeting |
|---|---|
| Population | US adults age 18+ |
| Field dates | May 11, 2026 |
| Base (unweighted) | 474 |
| Margin of error | ±4.8% |
| Module | identity |
| Sponsor | Verasight |
| Weight variable | weight |
| Weighting targets | age, race/ethnicity, sex, income, education, region, metropolitan status |
Sources
- reports.verasight.io/r/spsp26
I WANT TO AVOID feeling negative emotions over the course of a typical week.
- verasight-spsp-2025.tiiny.co
Over the course of a typical week, how often do you WANT TO AVOID feeling negative emotions?
Cite this question
Verasight SPSP Omnibus Survey #2026-045, fielded May 11-11, 2026, N=474 US adults age 18+, +/- 4.8%.