Election stress cuts across political divides, new report finds: Shots

Each year, the American Psychological Association surveys the leading causes of stress in the United States and publishes an annual report. This year’s report shows that while the usual doubts like money, health and family are still draining people, one issue dominates: politics.

Seven in 10 adults say the future of the country is a major source of stress in their lives, and the issue crosses party lines, with 80% of Republicans saying the issue is their top source of stress. rated it as a stressor, as did 79% of Democrats and 73% of independents. Lynn Bufka, a clinical psychologist and APA’s deputy director of professional affairs, said she was surprised by the findings.

“Republicans and Democrats are actually united in their concern about the future of the country, and they are confident that the system of checks and balances in this country is actually working as it should. ,” Bufka said. The majority fear that the election results will lead to political violence.

The report, called “America’s Stress in 2024: A Nation in Political Turmoil,” details the findings of a survey conducted by Harris Poll on behalf of APA. More than 3,000 U.S. adults ages 18 and older were surveyed from August 1 to 23, 2024.

Most adults (54%) say they have little or no trust in the U.S. government, and 41% say the situation in this country has made them consider moving to another country. And in another finding that perhaps adds to the political divide, 46% of respondents said they wouldn’t date someone who didn’t share the same political views (47% of women, 45% of men). % said so).

The majority of respondents are also concerned about misinformation and disinformation, with 82% worried that people are basing their values ​​and opinions on false or inaccurate information. I answered yes.

Part of the problem, Bufka says, is that Americans don’t see the things that matter to them represented in political discussions. People want to feel safe in their communities, have jobs that support their families and drive on roads that don’t have potholes or collapsed bridges, she said.

“People often feel anxious and stressed when they don’t see politicians addressing issues that make a big difference to their daily lives,” Bufka says.

The same applies to the political conversations people see in the news and on social media platforms.

Tania Israel, a professor of counseling psychology at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and author of the book “Facing the Fracture, How to Navigate the Challenges of Living in a Divided Nation,” says people are putting down their phones and talking to each other. He says that by speaking, we can change this dynamic. We really listen to where others are coming from and encourage them to share more with us, not less,” says Israel. “Because people are more nuanced, more complex, and less extreme than we imagine.”

Israel also encourages people to participate in civic life and politics beyond their social media feeds, including activities such as “working at a polling place on election day, volunteering in your community, or coaching soccer.” It is said that he is going there. “Working towards a common goal with other people is really good not only for that purpose, but also for our mental health.”

There is some positive news in the report. Three out of five people felt hopeful about the election results. Stress can also make people act out. 80% of survey respondents said they plan to vote in the presidential election.

Bufka says that despite known solutions to reduce perceived political divisions, people simply aren’t implementing these actions.

“Either we’ve forgotten how to do something, or we’re not sure how to do something, or we’re stuck in our own bubble and don’t know how to get out,” she says. .

She believes Americans want to find a way back to a place where they don’t pass each other too loudly, they just don’t know how to get there.

This article was edited by Jane Greenhalgh