The Personal Mental Strain of US Elections
Recent elections in the United States have brought to light the considerable stress and mental strain many voters experience. Two weeks since the presidential election, voters across the country are still coming to terms with the outcome. One such voter is 60-year-old Bay Area resident Stacey Lamirand. She invested so much in her preferred candidate’s victory that she knocked on doors in the last days of the campaign in Pennsylvania. Like many Americans, she finds herself still consumed by thoughts of the election.
Political Stress Affecting Health
The American Psychological Association (APA) has revealed that 69% of US adults have found the presidential election a significant source of stress. Worryingly, this issue is not restricted to one part of the political spectrum. The APA report disclosed that 80% of Republicans, 79% of Democrats, and 73% of Independents shared concerns about the country’s future.
Left unchecked, such stress can lead to various health problems such as muscle tension, headaches, sleep issues, and loss of appetite. In the long term, chronic stress can lead to more serious health-related conditions, including heart attacks, strokes, diabetes, and mental health ailments like clinical anxiety and depression.
A Double-edged Sword
When the source of stress is political, reducing such stress becomes challenging. It’s a “double-edged sword,” where seeking individual health might imply avoiding political debates and news, thus impacting the country’s democratic fabric. The dilemma that researchers grapple with is how to encourage political involvement without jeopardizing people’s mental health.
Politics and Everyday Stress
The nature of political stress strikes at the heart of everyday concerns, encompassing and compounded by additional sources of stress. Voters often find that their money and healthcare worries become more challenging to manage during a charged election season. Additionally, intense partisanship and hyper-polarization can turn political disagreements into moral disputes, intensifying stress levels.
Limited Control Fuelling Stress
Another contributing factor to political stress is the perceived lack of control over electoral outcomes. In comparison, people dealing with health-related conditions can proactively address these issues by adopting healthier lifestyles; for politics, there’s limited scope for altering outcomes single-handedly.
The Effect of Political Messages
With political messages being designed to keep voters on an emotional edge, feelings of anxiety and depression often result from relentless exposure to such messaging. Consequently, robust emotional stimulation can significantly hamper civil conversation and collective decision-making.
Is Disengagement the Answer?
The question of whether disengagement from political discourse is the solution to preserving mental health remains contentious. Some believe, “doing something” politically can serve as an antidote to anxiety, providing a sense of control. Nevertheless, for each individual, finding a balance between political engagement and mental health is a highly personal endeavor.
Envisioning a Better Path Forward
Efforts are currently underway to help people approach political challenges without succumbing to debilitating stress and anxiety. The aim is to encourage a sense of hope, inspiration, and compassion about political participation. This approach could be a win-win situation where active political involvement doesn’t necessarily have to pave the way for increased personal distress.
Bridging the Partisan Divide
Findings from the APA survey underline the need to bridge the partisan divide and focus on a common goal. The stress arising from unaddressed issues of concern and strained relationships due to political differences cuts across party lines. An inclusive approach that fosters productive political engagement without propelling mental distress will serve both individuals and the nation in the long run.