As election day approaches, it is important for voters to take a break from the frenzy of political headlines, social media posts and heated discussions and prioritize their mental health.
According to the American Psychological Association (APA), political anxiety is a “source of chronic stress that differs from psychological conditions such as general anxiety, with its unique impact on emotional well-being and societal cohesion.” During election season, political anxiety peaks among Americans. Physical signs of election anxiety include obsessively checking the news, panic attacks and significant time spent ruminating over the potential outcome of the election.
A study conducted in 2024 by the American Psychological Association revealed that 77% of Americans say their stress stems from their fear of the nation’s future. The number of individuals stressed from the 2024 presidential election increased to 69%, compared to 52% in the 2016 election. These high percentages can be attributed to the amount of election media consumption during an election.
Social media is designed to keep users online longer, and algorithms are very good at making the thing a user is looking at seem like it deserves the user’s attention. This is compounded by non stop campaigning, which comes from organizations and acquaintances in addition to formal campaigns. Sensationalized headlines push people to interact with social media news coverage and postings. However, a lot of these posts or articles highlight negative events.
In 2020, the APA found that 55% of adults are “worn out” by political discussions on the internet. However, avoiding them completely is not always possible.
It is important to understand strategies to manage election anxiety. Dr. Judson Brewer, director of research and innovation at Brown University School of Public Health, suggests that individuals struggling with election anxiety should practice mindfulness in order to “avoid spiraling into future-oriented worry.”
David Dunning, a psychology professor with the University of Michigan Institute for Social Research recommends refocusing on life outside of social media during an election. A good self care practice in dealing with election anxiety is to put your position as a voter in perspective. Each of us has control over how we vote and how we interact with others in political spaces. Beyond that, individuals have little control over the election, and anxiety will not give anyone more control over the outcome.
