Asian Americans report higher levels of anxiety than any other racial group in the U.S., a new survey finds. Why it matters: As Washington hardens its policies on immigration, citizenship and its relationship with China, public attitudes toward Asian Americans are shifting in parallel. The broad survey illustrates the anxiety felt by Asian Americans six years after the COVID pandemic generated a wave of anti-Asian violence in the U.S. By the numbers: Around 44% of Asian Americans say they feel worried about life right now, according to the STAATUS Index (Social Tracking of Asian Americans in the U.S.) released Friday. Asian Americans are the only group where worry outweighs hope (40%), the wide survey of all U.S. adults found. 66% of AAPIs support DEI programs — the highest of any racial group (vs. 48% overall), the survey found. State of play: Asian Americans are widely seen as successful — placed near the top of the U.S. "social ladder" by the public — but report a more fragile lived reality marked by anxiety, discrimination and policy concerns. Federal policies on immigration, trade and visas are increasingly shaping how both Asian Americans and the broader public understand the community's place in the U.S. The Asian American Foundation and NORC at the University of Chicago are behind the findings of the STAATUS Index, the leading national study of Americans' perceptions of AAPIs. Zoom in: The report also highlighted hardening attitudes and misconceptions toward Asian Americans from the general public. More than 1 in 5 U.S. adults (21%) say Chinese Americans pose a threat to society, the survey found. Nearly 1 in 4 U.S. adults believe Asian Americans are more loyal to another country than the U.S., with half unsure. Almost 40% can't name a famous Asian American, from pop artist Bruno Mars to former Vice President Kamala Harris. Context: Anti-Asian hate crimes declined in 2025, but remain far above pre-pandemic levels. Preliminary FBI data reviewed by Axios shows anti-Asian incidents fell 17% from 2024 to 2025, continuing a multi-year decline from the 2021 peak. Still, anti-Asian hate crime is up around 200% since 2015, signaling a lasting shift rather than a return to baseline. What they're saying: "This is a shift from extreme incidents to more systemic pressure," said Norman Chen, CEO of The Asian American Foundation (TAAF), tells Axios. Chen said Anti-Asian violence may be declining, but anxiety persists, fueled by immigration debates, China tensions and questions about citizenship. TAAF data chief Sruthi Chandrasekaran tells Axios there are signs of movement: Americans are "persuadable" when given more context, especially on issues like student visas. "That's a sign of hope." The bottom line: Asian Americans are gaining visibility in culture and public life, but the data show that recognition, safety, and belonging haven't caught up. Methodology: The 2026 STAATUS Index was conducted from January 16 to February 10, 2026, by NORC at the University of Chicago on behalf of TAAF. It is based on a nationally representative probability sample of 1,500 U.S.-based respondents aged 18 and above, drawn from NORC's AmeriSpeak® Panel and NORC's Amplify AAPI Panel. The margin of sampling error is +/-3.17 percentage points at the 95% confidence level, for results based on the entire sample.