If you’re feeling anxious during this election period, you’re far from alone.
More than 60% of survey respondents say the upcoming election has had a mild, moderate, or severe negative impact on their mental health.
In fact, 46% said they felt anxious, 37% said they felt stressed, and 31% said they felt scared.
Election anxiety is particularly affecting young Americans, a Forbes Health survey found.
Among generations, Gen Z (66%), Millennials (64%), and Gen X (63%) were the most likely to say the election had at least a slight negative impact on their mental health. In contrast, 56% of infants are boomers.
People vote early at St. Luke’s Roman Catholic Church in Queens on October 26, 2024. Brigid Stelzer
However, while the survey found that anxiety, stress, and fear were the top emotions reported regarding the 2024 election, not all of the reported emotions were negative.
In fact, 27% of participants reported feeling more optimistic, 22% felt excited, 16% felt euphoric, and 12% felt relieved.
Men were more likely than women (19%) to express positive emotions such as excitement (27%) and optimism (32% vs. 24%). Women had a higher proportion of respondents experiencing anxiety, stress, and fear.
Additionally, the survey found that for some participants, political stress extends beyond the voting booth, impacting school and work.
When asked to what extent their performance at work or school has been negatively affected by the upcoming election (for example, due to uncontrollable worry or anxiety), 28% of respondents said that their performance at work or school has been negatively affected by the upcoming election. respondents said they were at least slightly negatively affected. election.
Gen Z and Millennials are the most likely to report a negative impact on their performance at work or school, at 53% and 42%, respectively, compared to 24% for Gen X and 24% for Baby Boomers. It was only 10%.
“I think election day anxiety is a natural reaction to the important decisions we’re being asked to make,” says Forbes, a certified school psychologist and licensed professional counselor based in Waldorf, Maryland. said Dr. Rufus Tony Spann, health advisory board member. .
“I think some people’s anxiety comes from the results after past elections,” Dr. Spann explains. “Given the results of previous elections, some communities felt they needed to prepare for a backlash from the election results.”
“Anxiety, in my opinion, can manifest in your body, in your decisions, and in your emotions,” says Dr. Spann. “One way to tell if anxiety is manifesting in our bodies is to see how our bodies react to political decisions. Are you getting shallower? These don’t have to be exact signs, but they can be a reaction to the political situation,” says Dr. Spann.
To cope with election anxiety, 44% of Americans are trying to avoid the news, and 35% are talking it over with friends and family. An additional 29% are disengaging from social media.
In some cases, sharing political views with family and friends does not necessarily result in a like-minded audience, and the intensity of debates over opposing positions can increase during election periods. .
Almost half of respondents (44%) said they are worried about spending time with family and friends during the upcoming holiday season, which comes just before the presidential election.
Gen Z is the most likely to say they feel at least some anxiety about spending time with family and friends this holiday season at 60%, followed by Millennials at 54%, Gen Xers at 44%, and Gen Z at 60%. This was 28% of the baby boomer generation.
Research shows that the overwhelm and anxiety of the 2024 election cycle is exacerbated by the onslaught of information available on social media.
When asked which platforms dominate in terms of content regarding the upcoming presidential election, respondents cited news publishing (26%), YouTube (23%), TikTok (19%), and Instagram (16%). I did.
However, it is important to note that 40% of respondents said they did not feel overwhelmed by any of the above.
Political content on social media sites may actually be driving users away, with 26% of all respondents reducing their social media use before the election and 6% stopping using social media altogether .
When asked whether they thought social media was helping or hurting the democratic process, 40% of survey participants said they thought it was at least somewhat harmful to the democratic process. and 29% think it is at least somewhat helpful to the democratic process. Gen Z (45%) and Millennials (36%) are the most likely to say social media is at least somewhat helpful to the democratic process.
Baby Boomers (51%) and Gen was high.
Dr Ho added that the intersection of social media, politics and personal relationships could also contribute to election anxiety. “It’s important to recognize the triggers of election anxiety,” she says. “In my opinion, past elections, experiences with the current political climate, messages from family, friends, the media, and social media can all cause this anxiety.”
She recommends addressing this anxiety by setting boundaries for the amount of time you spend watching political news.
“Coping with election anxiety means being an active participant in having choices,” Dr. Spann added. “By taking the steps to register to vote, learn about the candidates, and vote, you can take an active stance in the process. This empowerment can help alleviate some of the anxiety.”
Still, if you’re feeling overwhelmed by elections and politics, Dr. Spann says it’s important to distance yourself from political messages. “Once your mind and body are relaxed and clear, give yourself the space to make decisions that make sense to you. Remember that being healthy is very important. Stay away from stress. “Being rested helps you make more informed decisions,” he says.
