About Half of Americans Say Their Lives Will Remain Changed in Major Ways When the Pandemic Is Over

An August survey from the Pew Research Center of 13,200 Americans found 51 percent of U.S. adults expect their lives will remain significantly changed after the COVID-19 pandemic, while 48 percent expect things to return to normal. Looking at age ranges, 57 percent of adults 18 to 29 years old say their lives will remain changed following the pandemic, compared with 51 percent of Americans 30 to 49, 50 percent of those 50 to 64, and 47 percent of those 65 and up. Sixty-four percent of black adults say their lives will remain changed in major ways following the crisis versus 56 percent of Asian adults, 53 percent of Hispanic adults, and 48 percent of white adults. Democrats and those who skew Democratic also are much more likely than Republicans and those with Republican affinities to expect their lives will remain changed afterwards. Finally, the study found that more women than men are likely to say they expect their lives will remain substantially altered.