Americans are feeling happy and hopeful about the idea of the COVID-19 pandemic ending

Although public health experts say the COVID-19 pandemic is not yet over, Americans are generally feeling happy and hopeful about the idea that the pandemic may soon come to an end.

A YouGov poll of more than 11,000 US adults finds that 54% of Americans are feeling happy about the idea of the pandemic coming to an end. A similar figure (51%) say they’re feeling hopeful, while slightly fewer describe themselves as feeling optimistic (42%). One-third (33%) say that they are excited.

But as people consider what post-pandemic life might bring, some are feeling a bit nervous (20%). Those who are between the ages of 18 and 24 (28%) and 25 and 34 (27%) are more likely than older people to be feeling this way.

A separate YouGov poll from March 2021 also found that younger Americans are more likely to report feeling nervous about the prospect of social interaction after the pandemic.

Far fewer Americans overall say they are feeling pessimistic (9%), fearful (8%), confused (7%), and/or sad (6%) about the idea of the pandemic coming to an end.

Additional YouGov polling suggests that Americans are feeling optimistic in general. Over half (56%) say they are feeling optimistic about America for the rest of 2021 and even more (68%) say they’re feeling optimistic about their own life for the rest of the year.

Related: The impact of coronavirus on mental health and relationships

Methodology: 11,744 US adults were surveyed between April 2 – 5, 2021. The responding sample is weighted to be representative of the US population.

Image: Getty