{"id":24330,"date":"2021-03-05T09:16:49","date_gmt":"2021-03-05T14:16:49","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"2025-09-03T12:31:00","modified_gmt":"2025-09-03T16:31:00","slug":"in-their-own-words-americans-describe-the-struggles-and-silver-linings-of-the-covid-19-pandemic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/data-labs\/2021\/03\/05\/in-their-own-words-americans-describe-the-struggles-and-silver-linings-of-the-covid-19-pandemic\/","title":{"rendered":"In Their Own Words, Americans Describe the Struggles and Silver Linings of the COVID-19 Pandemic"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-e1a0efe0 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20)\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide has-small-font-size is-content-justification-space-between is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-3b5177cb wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50)\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-9de42d92 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-cover is-light\" style=\"min-height:480px;aspect-ratio:unset;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-block-cover__image-background\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/03\/COVIDopenEnds_header.png\" data-object-fit=\"cover\"\/><span aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-cover__background has-background-dim-0 has-background-dim\"><\/span><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-cover-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-large-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h1 aria-level=\"1\" data-post-type=\"post\" style=\"line-height:1\" class=\"wp-block-post-title has-h-1-font-size\">In Their Own Words, Americans Describe the Struggles and Silver Linings of the COVID-19 Pandemic<\/h1>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading ui post sub-title is-style-default\" id=\"the-outbreak-has-dramatically-changed-americans-lives-and-relationships-over-the-past-year-we-asked-people-to-tell-us-about-their-experiences-good-and-bad-in-living-through-this-moment-in-history\"><em>The outbreak has dramatically changed Americans\u2019 lives and relationships over the past year. We asked people to tell us about their experiences \u2013 good and bad \u2013 in living through this moment in history.<\/em><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-sans-serif-font-family has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\"><div style=\"font-weight:600;letter-spacing:0px;padding-top:0;padding-bottom:0;padding-left:0;padding-right:0;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0\" class=\"wp-block-prc-block-bylines-display has-small-label-font-size is-layout-flex wp-container-prc-block-bylines-display-is-layout-08540703 wp-block-prc-block-bylines-display-is-layout-flex\" class=\"wp-block-prc-block-bylines-display__bylines\"><span class=\"wp-block-prc-block-bylines-display__prefix\">By<\/span> <a rel=\"author\" href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/staff\/patrick-van-kessel\/\" aria-label=\"View author archive for Patrick van Kessel\">Patrick van Kessel<\/a><span class=\"prc-platform-staff-bylines__separator\">, <\/span><a rel=\"author\" href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/staff\/chris-baronavski\/\" aria-label=\"View author archive for Chris Baronavski\">Chris Baronavski<\/a><span class=\"prc-platform-staff-bylines__separator\">, <\/span><a rel=\"author\" href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/staff\/alissa-scheller\/\" aria-label=\"View author archive for Alissa Scheller\">Alissa Scheller<\/a> <span class=\"prc-platform-staff-bylines__and-separator\">and<\/span> <a rel=\"author\" href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/staff\/aaron-smith\/\" aria-label=\"View author archive for Aaron Smith\">Aaron Smith<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group essay--toolbar has-white-background-color has-ui-white-background-color has-background is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\" style=\"padding-top:0;padding-right:0;padding-bottom:0;padding-left:0\"><div style=\"letter-spacing:1px;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;margin-left:0;margin-right:0\" class=\"wp-block-post-date has-text-color has-gray-medium-color has-small-label-font-size\"><time datetime=\"2021-03-05T09:16:49-05:00\">March 5, 2021<\/time><\/div>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-social-links has-small-icon-size has-icon-color is-style-logos-only is-layout-flex wp-container-core-social-links-is-layout-7db6d9ff wp-block-social-links-is-layout-flex\"><div style=\"--block-gap:inherit\" class=\"wp-block-prc-block-social-share-sheet\" data-wp-interactive=\"{&quot;namespace&quot;:&quot;prc-block\\\/social-share-sheet&quot;}\" data-wp-context=\"{&quot;title&quot;:&quot;In Their Own Words, Americans Describe the Struggles and Silver Linings of the COVID-19 Pandemic&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;The outbreak has dramatically changed Americans\\u2019 lives and relationships over the past year. We asked people to tell us about their experiences \\u2013 good and bad \\u2013 in living through this moment in history.&quot;,&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/alpha.pewresearch.org\\\/pewresearch-org\\\/?p=24330&quot;,&quot;hashtags&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;image&quot;:false}\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.onClick\" data-wp-class--web-share-supported=\"state.enabled\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.detectWebShareSupport\"><a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/?p=24330\" class=\"has-ui-gray-very-dark-color\"><i class=\"icon icon-library__solid icon__share\"><svg style=\"width: 1em; height: 1em;\"><use xlink:href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/plugins\/prc-icon-library\/build\/icons\/sprites\/solid.svg#share\"><\/use><\/svg><\/i><\/a>\n<li data-wp-context=\"{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/alpha.pewresearch.org\\\/pewresearch-org\\\/?p=24330&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;In Their Own Words, Americans Describe the Struggles and Silver Linings of the COVID-19 Pandemic&quot;,&quot;description&quot;:&quot;The outbreak has dramatically changed Americans\\u2019 lives and relationships over the past year. We asked people to tell us about their experiences \\u2013 good and bad \\u2013 in living through this moment in history.&quot;,&quot;platform&quot;:&quot;x&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/social-links\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.onClick\" style=\"color:#565656\" class=\"wp-social-link wp-social-link-x has-ui-gray-very-dark-color wp-block-social-link\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"wp-block-social-link-anchor\"><svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M13.982 10.622 20.54 3h-1.554l-5.693 6.618L8.745 3H3.5l6.876 10.007L3.5 21h1.554l6.012-6.989L15.868 21h5.245l-7.131-10.378Zm-2.128 2.474-.697-.997-5.543-7.93H8l4.474 6.4.697.996 5.815 8.318h-2.387l-4.745-6.787Z\" \/><\/svg><span class=\"wp-block-social-link-label screen-reader-text\">X<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n\n<li data-wp-context=\"{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/alpha.pewresearch.org\\\/pewresearch-org\\\/?p=24330&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;In Their Own Words, Americans Describe the Struggles and Silver Linings of the COVID-19 Pandemic&quot;,&quot;description&quot;:&quot;The outbreak has dramatically changed Americans\\u2019 lives and relationships over the past year. We asked people to tell us about their experiences \\u2013 good and bad \\u2013 in living through this moment in history.&quot;,&quot;platform&quot;:&quot;facebook&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/social-links\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.onClick\" style=\"color:#565656\" class=\"wp-social-link wp-social-link-facebook has-ui-gray-very-dark-color wp-block-social-link\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"wp-block-social-link-anchor\"><svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M12 2C6.5 2 2 6.5 2 12c0 5 3.7 9.1 8.4 9.9v-7H7.9V12h2.5V9.8c0-2.5 1.5-3.9 3.8-3.9 1.1 0 2.2.2 2.2.2v2.5h-1.3c-1.2 0-1.6.8-1.6 1.6V12h2.8l-.4 2.9h-2.3v7C18.3 21.1 22 17 22 12c0-5.5-4.5-10-10-10z\"><\/path><\/svg><span class=\"wp-block-social-link-label screen-reader-text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n\n<li data-wp-context=\"{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/alpha.pewresearch.org\\\/pewresearch-org\\\/?p=24330&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;In Their Own Words, Americans Describe the Struggles and Silver Linings of the COVID-19 Pandemic&quot;,&quot;description&quot;:&quot;The outbreak has dramatically changed Americans\\u2019 lives and relationships over the past year. We asked people to tell us about their experiences \\u2013 good and bad \\u2013 in living through this moment in history.&quot;,&quot;platform&quot;:&quot;threads&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/social-links\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.onClick\" style=\"color:#565656\" class=\"wp-social-link wp-social-link-threads has-ui-gray-very-dark-color wp-block-social-link\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"wp-block-social-link-anchor\"><svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M16.3 11.3c-.1 0-.2-.1-.2-.1-.1-2.6-1.5-4-3.9-4-1.4 0-2.6.6-3.3 1.7l1.3.9c.5-.8 1.4-1 2-1 .8 0 1.4.2 1.7.7.3.3.5.8.5 1.3-.7-.1-1.4-.2-2.2-.1-2.2.1-3.7 1.4-3.6 3.2 0 .9.5 1.7 1.3 2.2.7.4 1.5.6 2.4.6 1.2-.1 2.1-.5 2.7-1.3.5-.6.8-1.4.9-2.4.6.3 1 .8 1.2 1.3.4.9.4 2.4-.8 3.6-1.1 1.1-2.3 1.5-4.3 1.5-2.1 0-3.8-.7-4.8-2S5.7 14.3 5.7 12c0-2.3.5-4.1 1.5-5.4 1.1-1.3 2.7-2 4.8-2 2.2 0 3.8.7 4.9 2 .5.7.9 1.5 1.2 2.5l1.5-.4c-.3-1.2-.8-2.2-1.5-3.1-1.3-1.7-3.3-2.6-6-2.6-2.6 0-4.7.9-6 2.6C4.9 7.2 4.3 9.3 4.3 12s.6 4.8 1.9 6.4c1.4 1.7 3.4 2.6 6 2.6 2.3 0 4-.6 5.3-2 1.8-1.8 1.7-4 1.1-5.4-.4-.9-1.2-1.7-2.3-2.3zm-4 3.8c-1 .1-2-.4-2-1.3 0-.7.5-1.5 2.1-1.6h.5c.6 0 1.1.1 1.6.2-.2 2.3-1.3 2.7-2.2 2.7z\"\/><\/svg><span class=\"wp-block-social-link-label screen-reader-text\">Threads<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n\n<li data-wp-context=\"{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/alpha.pewresearch.org\\\/pewresearch-org\\\/?p=24330&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;In Their Own Words, Americans Describe the Struggles and Silver Linings of the COVID-19 Pandemic&quot;,&quot;description&quot;:&quot;The outbreak has dramatically changed Americans\\u2019 lives and relationships over the past year. We asked people to tell us about their experiences \\u2013 good and bad \\u2013 in living through this moment in history.&quot;,&quot;platform&quot;:&quot;linkedin&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/social-links\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.onClick\" style=\"color:#565656\" class=\"wp-social-link wp-social-link-linkedin has-ui-gray-very-dark-color wp-block-social-link\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"wp-block-social-link-anchor\"><svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M19.7,3H4.3C3.582,3,3,3.582,3,4.3v15.4C3,20.418,3.582,21,4.3,21h15.4c0.718,0,1.3-0.582,1.3-1.3V4.3 C21,3.582,20.418,3,19.7,3z M8.339,18.338H5.667v-8.59h2.672V18.338z M7.004,8.574c-0.857,0-1.549-0.694-1.549-1.548 c0-0.855,0.691-1.548,1.549-1.548c0.854,0,1.547,0.694,1.547,1.548C8.551,7.881,7.858,8.574,7.004,8.574z M18.339,18.338h-2.669 v-4.177c0-0.996-0.017-2.278-1.387-2.278c-1.389,0-1.601,1.086-1.601,2.206v4.249h-2.667v-8.59h2.559v1.174h0.037 c0.356-0.675,1.227-1.387,2.526-1.387c2.703,0,3.203,1.779,3.203,4.092V18.338z\"><\/path><\/svg><span class=\"wp-block-social-link-label screen-reader-text\">LinkedIn<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n\n<li data-wp-context=\"{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/alpha.pewresearch.org\\\/pewresearch-org\\\/?p=24330&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;In Their Own Words, Americans Describe the Struggles and Silver Linings of the COVID-19 Pandemic&quot;,&quot;description&quot;:&quot;The outbreak has dramatically changed Americans\\u2019 lives and relationships over the past year. We asked people to tell us about their experiences \\u2013 good and bad \\u2013 in living through this moment in history.&quot;,&quot;platform&quot;:&quot;whatsapp&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/social-links\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.onClick\" style=\"color:#565656\" class=\"wp-social-link wp-social-link-whatsapp has-ui-gray-very-dark-color wp-block-social-link\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"wp-block-social-link-anchor\"><svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M 12.011719 2 C 6.5057187 2 2.0234844 6.478375 2.0214844 11.984375 C 2.0204844 13.744375 2.4814687 15.462563 3.3554688 16.976562 L 2 22 L 7.2324219 20.763672 C 8.6914219 21.559672 10.333859 21.977516 12.005859 21.978516 L 12.009766 21.978516 C 17.514766 21.978516 21.995047 17.499141 21.998047 11.994141 C 22.000047 9.3251406 20.962172 6.8157344 19.076172 4.9277344 C 17.190172 3.0407344 14.683719 2.001 12.011719 2 z M 12.009766 4 C 14.145766 4.001 16.153109 4.8337969 17.662109 6.3417969 C 19.171109 7.8517969 20.000047 9.8581875 19.998047 11.992188 C 19.996047 16.396187 16.413812 19.978516 12.007812 19.978516 C 10.674812 19.977516 9.3544062 19.642812 8.1914062 19.007812 L 7.5175781 18.640625 L 6.7734375 18.816406 L 4.8046875 19.28125 L 5.2851562 17.496094 L 5.5019531 16.695312 L 5.0878906 15.976562 C 4.3898906 14.768562 4.0204844 13.387375 4.0214844 11.984375 C 4.0234844 7.582375 7.6067656 4 12.009766 4 z M 8.4765625 7.375 C 8.3095625 7.375 8.0395469 7.4375 7.8105469 7.6875 C 7.5815469 7.9365 6.9355469 8.5395781 6.9355469 9.7675781 C 6.9355469 10.995578 7.8300781 12.182609 7.9550781 12.349609 C 8.0790781 12.515609 9.68175 15.115234 12.21875 16.115234 C 14.32675 16.946234 14.754891 16.782234 15.212891 16.740234 C 15.670891 16.699234 16.690438 16.137687 16.898438 15.554688 C 17.106437 14.971687 17.106922 14.470187 17.044922 14.367188 C 16.982922 14.263188 16.816406 14.201172 16.566406 14.076172 C 16.317406 13.951172 15.090328 13.348625 14.861328 13.265625 C 14.632328 13.182625 14.464828 13.140625 14.298828 13.390625 C 14.132828 13.640625 13.655766 14.201187 13.509766 14.367188 C 13.363766 14.534188 13.21875 14.556641 12.96875 14.431641 C 12.71875 14.305641 11.914938 14.041406 10.960938 13.191406 C 10.218937 12.530406 9.7182656 11.714844 9.5722656 11.464844 C 9.4272656 11.215844 9.5585938 11.079078 9.6835938 10.955078 C 9.7955938 10.843078 9.9316406 10.663578 10.056641 10.517578 C 10.180641 10.371578 10.223641 10.267562 10.306641 10.101562 C 10.389641 9.9355625 10.347156 9.7890625 10.285156 9.6640625 C 10.223156 9.5390625 9.737625 8.3065 9.515625 7.8125 C 9.328625 7.3975 9.131125 7.3878594 8.953125 7.3808594 C 8.808125 7.3748594 8.6425625 7.375 8.4765625 7.375 z\"><\/path><\/svg><span class=\"wp-block-social-link-label screen-reader-text\">WhatsApp<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<\/div><\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pew Research Center has been asking survey questions over the past year about Americans\u2019 views and reactions to the COVID-19 pandemic. In August, we gave the public a chance to tell us in their own words how the pandemic has affected them in their personal lives. We wanted to let them tell us how their lives have become more difficult or challenging, and we also asked about any unexpectedly positive events that might have happened during that time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The vast majority of Americans (89%) mentioned at least one negative change in their own lives, while a smaller share (though still a 73% majority) mentioned at least one unexpected upside. Most have experienced these negative impacts and silver linings simultaneously: Two-thirds (67%) of Americans mentioned at least one negative and at least one positive change since the pandemic began.<\/p>\n\n\n<div style=\"border-width:1px;padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);--block-gap: inherit\" class=\"wp-block-prc-block-collapsible js-react-collapsible is-style-alternate has-background has-ui-beige-very-light-background-color has-border-color has-ui-beige-dark-border-color\" id=\"how-we-did-this\" data-wp-interactive=\"{&quot;namespace&quot;:&quot;prc-block\\\/collapsible&quot;}\" data-wp-context=\"{&quot;collapsibleId&quot;:&quot;how-we-did-this&quot;,&quot;isOpen&quot;:false}\" data-wp-class--is-open=\"context.isOpen\" data-wp-init--scroll-into-view=\"callbacks.onInitScrollIntoView\"><div class=\"wp-block-prc-block-collapsible__title\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.onClick\"><div>How we did this<\/div><button class=\"wp-block-prc-block-collapsible__icon\"><span data-wp-bind--hidden=\"context.isOpen\"><i class=\"icon icon-library__light icon__circle-plus\"><svg style=\"width: 1em; height: 1em;\"><use xlink:href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/plugins\/prc-icon-library\/build\/icons\/sprites\/light.svg#circle-plus\"><\/use><\/svg><\/i><\/span><span data-wp-bind--hidden=\"!context.isOpen\" hidden><i class=\"icon icon-library__light icon__circle-minus\"><svg style=\"width: 1em; height: 1em;\"><use xlink:href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/plugins\/prc-icon-library\/build\/icons\/sprites\/light.svg#circle-minus\"><\/use><\/svg><\/i><\/span><\/button><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-prc-block-collapsible__content\">\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For this analysis, we surveyed 9,220 U.S. adults between Aug. 31-Sept. 7, 2020. Everyone who completed the survey is a member of Pew Research Center\u2019s American Trends Panel (ATP), an online survey panel that is recruited through national, random sampling of residential addresses. This way nearly all U.S. adults have a chance of selection. The survey is weighted to be representative of the U.S. adult population by gender, race, ethnicity, partisan affiliation, education and other categories.&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/methods\/u-s-survey-research\/american-trends-panel\/\">Read more about the ATP\u2019s methodology<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Respondents to the survey were asked to describe in their own words how their lives have been difficult or challenging since the beginning of the coronavirus outbreak, and to describe any positive aspects of the situation they have personally experienced as well. Overall, 84% of respondents provided an answer to one or both of the questions. The Center then categorized a random sample of 4,071 of their answers using a combination of in-house human coders, Amazon\u2019s Mechanical Turk service and keyword-based pattern matching. The <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/2021\/03\/05\/methodology\/\">full methodology<\/a>&nbsp;and <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/PDL_03.05.21.covid_.topline.pdf\">questions<\/a> used in this analysis can be found here.<\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In many ways, the negatives clearly outweigh the positives \u2013 an unsurprising reaction to a pandemic that had killed&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/covid.cdc.gov\/covid-data-tracker\/#trends_totalandratedeathssevendayrate\">more than 180,000 Americans<\/a>&nbsp;at the time the survey was conducted. Across every major aspect of life mentioned in these responses, a larger share mentioned a negative impact than mentioned an unexpected upside. Americans also described the negative aspects of the pandemic in greater detail: On average, negative responses were longer than positive ones (27 vs. 19 words). But for all the difficulties and challenges of the pandemic, a majority of Americans were able to think of at least one silver lining.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/data-labs\/2021\/03\/05\/in-their-own-words-americans-describe-the-struggles-and-silver-linings-of-the-covid-19-pandemic\/pdl_03-05-21_covid-open_-end_-lede_-png\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-31755\"><img data-dominant-color=\"f1f1f1\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" height=\"591\" width=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/03\/PDL_03.05.21_covid.open_.end_.lede_.png?w=1024\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-31755 not-transparent\" style=\"--dominant-color: #f1f1f1; width:640px;height:undefinedpx\" srcset=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/03\/PDL_03.05.21_covid.open_.end_.lede_.png 1282w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/03\/PDL_03.05.21_covid.open_.end_.lede_.png?resize=300,173 300w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/03\/PDL_03.05.21_covid.open_.end_.lede_.png?resize=768,443 768w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/03\/PDL_03.05.21_covid.open_.end_.lede_.png?resize=1024,591 1024w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/03\/PDL_03.05.21_covid.open_.end_.lede_.png?resize=702,405 702w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/03\/PDL_03.05.21_covid.open_.end_.lede_.png?resize=200,115 200w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/03\/PDL_03.05.21_covid.open_.end_.lede_.png?resize=260,150 260w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/03\/PDL_03.05.21_covid.open_.end_.lede_.png?resize=310,179 310w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/03\/PDL_03.05.21_covid.open_.end_.lede_.png?resize=420,242 420w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/03\/PDL_03.05.21_covid.open_.end_.lede_.png?resize=640,369 640w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/03\/PDL_03.05.21_covid.open_.end_.lede_.png?resize=740,427 740w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/03\/PDL_03.05.21_covid.open_.end_.lede_.png?resize=160,92 160w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/03\/PDL_03.05.21_covid.open_.end_.lede_.png?resize=320,185 320w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/03\/PDL_03.05.21_covid.open_.end_.lede_.png?resize=148,84 148w\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Both the negative and positive impacts described in these responses cover many aspects of life, none of which were mentioned by a majority of Americans. Instead, the responses reveal a pandemic that has affected Americans\u2019 lives in a variety of ways, of which there is no \u201ctypical\u201d experience. Indeed, not all groups seem to have experienced the pandemic equally. For instance, younger and more educated Americans were more likely to mention silver linings, while women were more likely than men to mention challenges or difficulties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here are some direct quotes that reveal how Americans are processing the new reality that has upended life across the country.<br><br><br><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-prc-platform-feature-loader\" id=\"js-interactive\"><\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The outbreak has dramatically changed Americans\u2019 lives and relationships over the past year. We asked people to tell us about their experiences \u2013 good and bad \u2013 in living through this moment in history.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":367,"featured_media":31759,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"layout-essay-no-breadcrumbs","format":"standard","meta":{"_crdt_document":"","sub_headline":"","sub_title":"","_prc_public_revisions":[],"_ppp_expiration_hours":0,"_ppp_enabled":false,"ai_generated_summary":"","bylines":[{"key":"_4aenc0q00","termId":927},{"key":"_yl259gysi","termId":974},{"key":"_npyhycnvv","termId":942},{"key":"_53l0o6ab5","termId":973}],"acknowledgements":[],"displayBylines":true,"relatedPosts":[],"reportMaterials":[],"multiSectionReport":[],"package_parts__enabled":false,"package_parts":[],"_prc_fork_parent":0,"_prc_fork_status":"","_prc_active_fork":0,"datacite_doi":"","datacite_doi_citation":"","_prc_seo_qr_attachment_id":0,"spoken_article_player_enabled":true,"footnotes":""},"categories":[448,413,400,31,369,440],"tags":[],"bylines":[973,942,974,927],"collection":[],"datasets":[],"level_of_effort":[],"primary_audience":[],"information_type":[],"_post_visibility":[],"formats":[460],"_fund_pool":[],"languages":[],"regions-countries":[515],"research-teams":[521],"class_list":["post-24330","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-coronavirus-disease-covid-19","category-covid-19-the-economy","category-covid-19-in-the-news","category-family-relationships","category-happiness-life-satisfaction","category-recessions-recoveries","bylines-aaron-smith","bylines-alissa-scheller","bylines-chris-baronavski","bylines-patrick-van-kessel","formats-feature","regions-countries-united-states","research-teams-data-labs"],"label":false,"post_parent":0,"word_count":591,"canonical_url":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/data-labs\/2021\/03\/05\/in-their-own-words-americans-describe-the-struggles-and-silver-linings-of-the-covid-19-pandemic\/","art_direction":{"A2":{"id":31759,"rawUrl":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/03\/COVIDopenEnds_header.png","url":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/03\/COVIDopenEnds_header.png?w=268&h=151&crop=1","width":268,"height":151,"chartArt":true},"XL":{"id":31759,"rawUrl":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/03\/COVIDopenEnds_header.png","url":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/03\/COVIDopenEnds_header.png?w=720&h=405&crop=1","width":720,"height":405,"chartArt":false},"A3":{"id":31759,"rawUrl":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/03\/COVIDopenEnds_header.png","url":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/03\/COVIDopenEnds_header.png?w=194&h=110&crop=1","width":194,"height":110,"chartArt":true},"A4":{"id":31759,"rawUrl":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/03\/COVIDopenEnds_header.png","url":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/03\/COVIDopenEnds_header.png?w=268&h=151&crop=1","width":268,"height":151,"chartArt":true},"A1":{"id":31759,"rawUrl":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/03\/COVIDopenEnds_header.png","url":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/03\/COVIDopenEnds_header.png?w=564&h=317&crop=1","width":564,"height":317,"chartArt":false},"social":{"id":31759,"rawUrl":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/03\/COVIDopenEnds_header.png","url":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/03\/COVIDopenEnds_header.png?w=1200&h=628&crop=1","width":1200,"height":628,"chartArt":false}},"_embeds":[],"table_of_contents":[],"report_materials":"","report_pagination":{"current_post":null,"next_post":null,"previous_post":null,"pagination_items":[]},"parent_info":{"parent_title":"In Their Own Words, Americans Describe the Struggles and Silver Linings of the COVID-19 Pandemic","parent_id":24330},"materialsOrdered":[],"chaptersOrdered":[],"partsOrdered":[],"partsEnabled":false,"datacite_doi":"","prc_seo_data":{"title":"How first year of COVID-19 changed Americans' personal lives","description":"The outbreak has dramatically changed Americans\u2019 lives and relationships over the past year. We asked people to tell us about their experiences \u2013 good and bad \u2013 in living through this moment in history.","og_title":"How first year of COVID-19 changed Americans' personal lives","og_description":"The outbreak has dramatically changed Americans\u2019 lives and relationships over the past year. 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