A new survey found that Asian Americans in the United States report higher levels of anxiety than any other racial group, Axios reported.
According to the STAATUS (Social Tracking of Asian Americans in the US) index, which was released on Friday (local time), it showed that about 44 percent of Asian Americans are worried about their life in the US right now. The Asian American Foundation and NORC at the University of Chicago are behind the findings of the STAATUS Index, the nation’s leading study of Americans’ perceptions of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) people.
Are Asian Americans nervous in the US?
A survey highlights lingering anxiety among Asian Americans six years after the coronavirus pandemic sparked a wave of anti-Asian violence in the US.
In addition, public attitudes toward Asian Americans are changing in parallel, the report adds.
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What did the survey reveal?
Asian Americans are the only racial group in the country where fear outweighs hope, with 40 percent reporting higher levels of worry, a broad survey of all U.S. adults found. It also found that nearly 66 percent of AAPIs support Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs, the most of any racial group, compared to 48 percent overall.
Asian Americans are widely perceived as successful and are placed near the top of the American “social ladder” by the public; however, they report a more fragile lived reality marked by anxiety, discrimination and political concerns.
Changing attitudes toward Asian Americans
The survey also showed entrenched attitudes and misconceptions about Asian Americans among the general public. More than one in five US adults, or 21 percent, said the Chinese posed a threat to Washington and society.
Nearly one in four U.S. adults believe that Asian Americans are more loyal to another country than to the U.S., while about half say they are not sure.
Additionally, nearly 40 percent can’t think of a famous Asian-American, such as pop artist Bruno Mars or former Vice President Kamala Harris.
Anti-Asian hate crimes down in 2025
While anti-Asian hate crimes declined in 2025, they were still much higher than pre-pandemic levels. Citing preliminary data from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Axios said anti-Asian crime incidents fell 17 percent between 2024 and 2025, continuing a multi-year decline from a peak in 2021.
Despite the decline, anti-Asian hate crimes have increased by roughly 200 percent since 2015, a number that signals a permanent shift rather than a return to baseline.
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Norman Chen, CEO of the Asian American Foundation (TAAF), said: “This is a shift from extreme incidents to more systematic pressure,” adding that while anti-Asian violence may be waning, anxiety remains, fueled by debates over immigration, tensions in China and questions about citizenship.
TAAF head of data Sruthi Chandrasekaran told Axios that there are signs of movement: Americans are “persuasive” when given more context, especially on issues like student visas. “That’s a sign of hope.
While Asian Americans are gaining visibility in culture and public life, data shows that recognition, safety, and belonging have not caught up.
Change of administration policy
It comes at a time when Washington has hardened on issues such as immigration, citizenship and the relationship with China. The changes came when US President Donald Trump took office for the second time last year, replacing his Democratic predecessor, Joe Biden, who had a relatively lenient stance on immigration. Since Trump took office again, his administration has increased efforts to police both legal and illegal immigrants, with the Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) enforcing the rules. From Kilmar Abrega Garcia being deported to El Salvador in 2025 to the ICE detention of five-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos with his father in Minnesota earlier this year.
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Federal immigration, trade and visa policies consistently shape how Asian Americans and the wider public understand the community’s place in the country, according to the survey.
Key things
- Asian Americans report higher levels of anxiety about immigration policy and social perception.
- Despite being perceived as successful, many Asian Americans feel a lack of belonging and safety.
- Support for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programs is particularly high among Asian Americans, indicating a desire for systemic change.
