Americans are still stressed out about politics in the United States, according to a new survey.
The American Psychological Association’s annual “Stress in America: Coping with Change” study shows Americans are dealing with a higher level of anxiety over politics and distress over the future of the country.
Lynn Bufka, APA executive director for practice, research and policy told USA Today, “People are saying they’re more stressed now than they have been in quite some time.”
72% of Democrats report the outcome of the Presidential election is a major stressor. Meanwhile, 59% of Republicans consider the future of the country as one of the leading causes of the stress.
Researchers also pointed out millennials, minorities, and individuals with a college degree and people living in urban areas are reporting the highest levels of stress. However, considering the outcome of the election, most of these individuals experiencing higher than normal levels of stress most likely did not vote for Donald Trump.
How stress affects the body
Bufka asserts stress can lead to physiological symptoms including headaches, stomachaches, difficulty sleeping, and anxiety. Ultimately, this can affect someone’s health in the long term. In fact, a study by Harvard Medical School earlier this year found a correlation between brain activity and cardiovascular activity. Scientists examined 300 patients in a longitudinal study. Harvard researchers discovered activity in the brain’s amygdala leads to an inflammation of arteries and increases the risk of heart attacks.
Stress levels before the election
This news comes after the APA studied Americans stress levels before to the election. Last October, researchers found more than 50% of Americans reported feeling stressed out about the election. Also, Republicans reported having higher levels of stress than Democrats, which is interesting considering how Democrats now report having higher levels of stress.