The Worldwide Independent Network of MR (WIN), leading global association of independent market research and polling firms, has released new findings from its Worldviews Survey (WVS). This year’s survey captures the perspective and beliefs of 35,515 individuals across 40 countries. As we mark Mental Health Day, the latest findings reveal that the majority of people globally experience negative moods frequently, with socioeconomic and demographic factors playing a large role. Low moods significantly shape how individuals perceive their own health, serving as a strong and consistent indicator.
By tracking trends over six years, WIN has assessed and provided valuable insights into how these perceptions regarding self-perceived health, including sleep health and stress levels, are changing over time.
Over half the world struggles with negative moods regularly
As the world faces instability, economic pressures, and rapid social change, mental health is emerging as one of the most pressing global challenges. The 2025 WVS reveals that 62% of people worldwide report experiencing negative moods often, including worry, stress, fatigue, sadness, and loneliness.
Fatigue leads the list, with 37% of people saying they often feel tired. Worry (33%) and stress (32%) follow closely behind. Concerningly, over a quarter of the world’s population (28%) report experiencing trouble sleeping in the past 30 days, a factor that can further deepen negative moods.
The other measured negative mental health states are reported by around 2 in 10 respondents worldwide: feeling overwhelmed (24%), irritable or moody (23%), sad, empty or depressed (22%), and lonely (20%), whether “a lot/very often” or “moderately/fairly often.”
The findings also show stark differences across demographics. Women are more affected than men, with 68% reporting frequent negative moods compared to 57% of men. Young adults are particularly vulnerable: 71% of those aged 18 to 24 say they often experience low moods, compared with just 49% among those aged 65 and over. Education levels also play a role, with the least educated consistently reporting higher levels of low mood (76%). This trend among the most affected groups is consistently observed across all items analysed separately.
And even within regions, the differences are striking. People in the Philippines are the most affected, with 85% saying they regularly experience negative moods, while Vietnam reports the lowest prevalence at just 22%.
Significance of psychological distress on self-perceived health
A person’s psychological well-being plays a critical role in shaping how they view their overall health and quality of life. To closely examine this, WIN has conducted an objective analysis of the relationship between psychological distress and self-perceived general health. To assess psychological distress, researchers developed an Index using data from the WVS, specifically focusing on how often individuals reported experiencing low moods and stress. A higher score on the Psychological Distress Index indicates greater levels of negative moods.
The results reveal a clear pattern: as psychological distress increases, so does the likelihood that individuals will view their health negatively. This relationship is statistically significant and underscores the strong link between mental health and perceived physical health.
While the model does not account for other potential influences, such as physical conditions, age, or socioeconomic status, it nonetheless confirms that mental health is a meaningful determinant of how people perceive their own health. In fact, levels of psychological distress (the Index) can serve as a reliable predictor of whether an
individual is likely to see themselves as healthy or as experiencing deteriorating health.
Richard Colwell, President of WIN International Association, said:
“These findings shine a spotlight on a global challenge that we cannot see: the mental strain and psychological distress in these unstable times. The WVS shows that negative moods are not just widespread, they are impacted by people’s socioeconomic status, education, gender, and age – and closely linked to self-perception of health. Understanding these patterns is critical for policymakers, communities, and global organisations as they seek to support mental wellbeing.”