1. Health Concerns

• 1981:
  • Emergence of HIV/AIDS: The first cases of AIDS were reported by the CDC. It sparked widespread fear and confusion due to lack of understanding and stigma.
  • Public Concern: High due to the mysterious nature, lack of treatment, and mortality rate.
• 2025  :
  • Post-Pandemic Health Issues: Lingering effects of COVID-19 (e.g., long COVID, strained healthcare systems).
  • Rise in mental health issues, antibiotic resistance, and aging population concerns.
  • Public Concern: Focused on the resilience of healthcare systems, trust in science, and health misinformation.

2. Technology & Privacy

• 1981:
  • Early Personal Computers: IBM released its first PC. Concerns were minimal but curiosity and excitement were high.
  • Public Concern: Low — people were just beginning to understand what computers could do.
• 2025:
  • AI & Surveillance: AI’s rapid advancement, facial recognition, deepfakes, and privacy issues raise ethical concerns.
  • Public Concern: High — data misuse, job automation, misinformation, and surveillance capitalism are key fears.

3. Political Climate

• 1981:
  • Cold War Tensions: Ronald Reagan became U.S. President; relations with the USSR worsened arms race intensified.
  • Public Concern: Fear of nuclear war, especially after events like the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and Reagan’s rhetoric.
• 2025:
  • Geopolitical Tensions: U.S.–China rivalry, Russia–Ukraine conflict ongoing, threats to democracy, and global polarization.
  • Public Concern: Cyberwarfare, political instability, authoritarianism, and international conflicts.

4. Economy & Jobs

• 1981:
  • Recession & Inflation: The U.S. faced a severe recession and high inflation; interest rates hit record highs.
  • Public Concern: Unemployment and cost of living.
• 2025:
  • Post-pandemic Recovery: Inflation, rising interest rates, gig economy instability, and AI-driven job displacement.
  • Public Concern: Economic inequality, affordability, and future-proofing careers.

5. Environment

• 1981:
  • Emerging Awareness: Environmentalism was growing, but climate change wasn’t mainstream.
  • Public Concern: Low-to-moderate — more local pollution and conservation concerns.
• 2025:
  • Climate Crisis: Wildfires, heatwaves, floods, and global emissions dominate headlines.
  • Public Concern: Very high — climate anxiety, eco-migration, and disaster readiness.

Special Note:

1.  1981 is the publication date of Henri Nouwen’s, The Way of the Heart
2.  2025 data includes  both current and projected concerns
3.  Data source:  Chat GPT