Election-Related Stress Levels Continue to Soar
According to a recent American Psychological Association (APA) survey conducted by Harris Poll, stress levels in the United States are currently higher than theyve been at any other time in the last decade. While Americans typically are stressed over personal issuesfor example, their finances, home life, and jobthis recent poll indicated politics is a major stressor.
Leading up to the presidential election in 2016, psychologists reported increased anxiety among patients. Since the election in November, things have gotten in worse for many people. An APA poll in August 2016 showed that 71 percent of people in the U.S. experienced physical or mental symptoms of stress at least once within the month. According to a January 2017 poll, 80 percent reported symptoms associated with stress and two-thirds of Americans66 percentreported anxiety about the future of the country.
Minority groups, millennials, people living in urban areas, and college-educated people are reportedly experiencing the highest levels of election-related stress and anxiety. While its important to stay informed about current events, hyper-vigilance and constant exposure to the news can have a negative impact on mental health.
https://www.healthcentral.com/article/election-related-stress-levels-continue-to-soar