Report · Culture

When comparison motivates, and when it hurts

Reading

In a Verasight survey of 1,000 U.S. adults conducted May 1 to 4, 2026, 36% of Americans said comparing themselves to people doing better leaves them inspired, happy, or confident afterward.

A similar 33% said that same upward comparison leaves them disappointed, anxious, or frustrated. Smaller shares described reactions to comparing themselves with people doing worse.

Topline

single choice

Topline distribution

36% said upward comparison leaves them inspired, happy, or confident.

When comparing yourself to others, which of the following happens for you most often? Some of the response options seem similar, but that is on purpose. Please read carefully.

  • I compare myself to people doing better than me, and I feel inspired, happy, or confident afterward. 36.0%
  • I compare myself to people doing better than me, and I feel disappointed, anxious, or frustrated afterward. 33.4%
  • I compare myself to people doing worse than me, and I feel relieved, satisfied, or confident afterward. 22.6%
  • I compare myself to people doing worse than me, and I feel discouraged, anxious, or frustrated afterward. 8.0%

2026 · base n 1,000 · +/- 3.3%

2

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Methodology

Full methodology
Mode
Verasight panel recruited via random address-based sampling, random person-to-person text messaging, and dynamic online targeting
Field dates
2026-05-01 → 2026-05-04
Base (unweighted)
1,000
Margin of error
+/- 3.3%
Module
2

Source

Citation

SBM Omnibus Survey #2026-049, fielded May 1-4, 2026, N=1,000 US adults age 18+, +/- 3.3%.

https://reports.verasight.io/r/sbm-2026

Verasight survey methodology

How Verasight conducts surveys.

This page describes the Verasight general survey contract, separate from how the Data Library packages it. When a wave report is published, its field dates, sample sizes, and module breakdown are listed in that report.

Mode
Verasight panel recruited via random address-based sampling, random person-to-person text messaging, and dynamic online targeting.
Population
US adults age 18+.
Sample design
Surveys are run as omnibus or single-topic waves. Omnibus waves are split into modules with their own respondent set, typically around one thousand respondents per module.
Field window
Each wave specifies its own field dates. Most omnibus waves field across roughly two weeks.
Weighting
Per-module weighting to CPS targets including age, race and ethnicity, sex, income, education, region, and metropolitan status.
Partisanship benchmark
Pew Research Center's NPORS benchmarking surveys, three-year running average.
Vote benchmark
2024 presidential vote population benchmarks.
Margin of error
Typically about plus or minus 3.4 to 3.6 percent per module at standard module sizes. Question-level MoE is recomputed when a base shrinks materially below the module baseline.
Reporting
The canonical report hub is reports.verasight.io. Verified legacy reports remain on their original hosts, and unpublished reports are marked pending.
Transparency
Verasight is a member of the American Association for Public Opinion Research Transparency Initiative.

The canonical report hub is reports.verasight.io; older reports may remain on verified legacy hosts.