WASHINGTON, D.C. -- At a time when nearly all U.S. children are homebound as COVID-19 has led to school closures, children still largely experience positive emotions, according to reports from their parents.
Close to nine in 10 parents of children under the age of 18 say their children experienced enjoyment (89%) and happiness (88%) "during a lot of the day" prior to the day they were interviewed. However, with many children receiving distance learning or being home-schooled for part of the day rather than attending school, 65% of parents report their children are experiencing boredom.
Five other emotions -- all negative -- are currently far less common among children, including worry (26%), stress (24%), anger (24%), sadness (20%) and loneliness (20%).
Stress and worry are largely confined to parents -- roughly seven in 10 parents report feeling these emotions themselves, each by at least 40 percentage points higher than the comparable percentage among children.
| Child | Parent | Difference | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| % | % | pct. pts. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Enjoyment | 89 | 63 | +26 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Happiness | 88 | 77 | +11 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Boredom | 65 | 37 | +28 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Worry | 26 | 66 | -40 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stress | 24 | 71 | -47 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Anger | 24 | 26 | -2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sadness | 20 | 28 | -8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Loneliness | 20 | 17 | +3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gallup Panel, March 24-27, 2020 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
While parents are likely to report feeling enjoyment or happiness, they are less likely to experience those positive emotions than their children are. Parents are also significantly less likely than their children to report experiencing boredom.
Sadness, anger and loneliness are not common emotions for parents or children, even in these trying times.
Learn more about how the Gallup Panel works.
