AAPI Data | AP-NORC Survey April-May 2026

AAPI adults have more confidence and trust in medical professionals than government officials, and most are stressed about health concerns

Personal finances are a source of stress for most AAPI adults, along with health concerns. And many are also stressed about discrimination, with 1 in 4 experiencing a hate crime or incident in the last year.

Topics covered: health, mental health, discrimination, hate

Key Survey Takeaways

• AAPI adults report the most confidence in doctors and nurses (92%) and scientists and medical researchers (92%) to do what is best for public health, while only 44% are confident in the federal government to do the same. 
  • Why it matters: Low confidence in the federal government on health policy is also reflected in high disapproval ratings of Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. from June 2025 (57%) and February 2026 (59%).
• When it comes to trusting others to do what is right for them and their families, AAPI adults give high marks for doctors and nurses (80%) and pharmacists (74%), and very low marks for hospital executives (20%), health insurance providers (22%), and public health officials in the federal government (27%). State health officials (45%) and mental health counselors (58%) perform somewhat better.
  • Why it matters: Mistrust of hospital executives and health insurance providers is likely driven by cost and coverage considerations, with our February 2026 survey results indicating health costs as a major source of stress.
• 32% are extremely or very concerned about medical records being shared with immigration enforcement, and 21% are somewhat concerned.
  • Why it matters: Since a December 2025 court ruling, the federal government can share personal information on Medicaid recipients with ICE for all immigrants in 28 states, and for undocumented immigrants nationwide.
• 79% have used alternative medicine to treat or prevent a health issue in the last year and about half cite a recommendation or prescription by a medical doctor, friends or social media.
  • Why it matters: Trusted messengers such as medical doctors or friends can play a large role in influencing the medical choices of AAPIs. 
• About 1 in 4 (28%) experienced a hate crime or incident in the last year, with hate incidents (23%) more common than hate crimes (11%).
  • Why it matters: With an estimated 19 million AAPI adults in the United States, these results suggest that nearly 2 million are still experiencing violence or threats of violence because of their race or ethnicity.
• 59% think it is at least somewhat likely they will be discriminated against because of their race or ethnicity in the next 5 years, and 47% because of their immigrant background or status.
  • Why it matters: In a political climate increasingly hostile to immigrants, AAPIs—the only racial group that is majority foreign-born—are anticipating further incidents of discrimination and hate. 

Trust in various healthcare professions to do what is best for AAPI adults and their families mirrors confidence in doing what is best for public health

Most AAPI adults have used a form of alternative medicine to treat or prevent health problems in the last year

Seventy-nine percent have used one of the approaches asked about, most commonly dietary supplements (62%) or probiotics (46%). And about half (55%) have used non-dietary approaches, including mindfulness-based stress reduction techniques (32%) or movement practices, such as Yoga, Tai Chi, or Qigong (21%).

Among those who have used one of these approaches, about half cite a recommendation or prescription from a medical doctor (53%), say conventional medicine was too expensive (50%), or received a recommendation through friends or social media (50%). On the other hand, those who have not used any of the alternative medicines asked about cite concerns about effectiveness (40%) and safety (37%), or say their doctor did not recommend them (35%). Thirty-two percent say they were too expensive.

Looking at concerns about health care, about half are extremely or very concerned about not being able to afford treatment options, while about 1 in 3 are concerned about treatments not being taken seriously by providers or medical records being shared with immigration enforcement. Fewer are concerned about not having access to language services (11%). 

The survey also covers mental health topics and finds that 3 in 4 AAPI adults cite personal finances (75%) and health concerns (74%) as a major or minor source of stress, while 59% say the same about relationships with friends or family.

While discrimination is a source of stress for fewer AAPI adults than other issues, 48% still say it is a source of stress in their life right now including 11% who say it is a major source

One in 10 have experienced a hate crime in the last year, and another 2 in 10 have experienced a hate incident. These findings are similar to reports among AAPI adults in June 2025, and mark a decline compared with October 2023.

Few AAPI adults experience discrimination very often, but most have experienced it at some point in their community (64%) or when applying for jobs (60%), and about half have experienced it when getting health care from doctors (51%) or dealing with the police (53%). About 6 in 10 AAPI adults think it is likely they will face discrimination because of their race or ethnicity in the next 5 years, including 29% who say it is extremely or very likely, and about half say the same about their immigrant background or status.

And while most AAPI adults do not feel symptoms of anxiety, those who experienced a hate crime or incident are more likely than those who did not to experience moderate or severe anxiety (28% vs 14%), as are those who cite health concerns, personal finances, personal relationships, or discrimination as stressors in their lives.

Study Methodology

The nationwide study was conducted by The AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research and AAPI Data from March 23-30, 2026, using the Amplify AAPI Monthly survey drawing from NORC’s Amplify AAPI® Panel designed to be representative of the U.S. Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander household population. Online and telephone interviews were offered in English, the Chinese dialects of Mandarin and Cantonese, Vietnamese, and Korean with 1,228 Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islanders aged 18 and older living in the United States. The margin of sampling error is +/- 4.5 percentage points.