Trump troubles and Harris headaches: Voters stressing out as presidential election nears

Author(s):

Richard Payerchin

Key Takeaways

The U.S. presidential election is exacerbating political tensions, causing stress among citizens and eroding trust in government and interpersonal relationships.
The American Psychological Association's survey reveals a highly charged political climate, leading to strained relationships and diminished civil discourse.
Community engagement is crucial to reducing stress, as isolating oneself can exacerbate the situation, according to the APA.
The survey, conducted by The Harris Poll, included diverse demographic groups, highlighting the widespread impact of political divisiveness.

American Psychological Association announces results from national ‘Stress in America’ survey in presidential election season.

On Nov. 5, voters will choose the next president of the United States of America, along with a host of other state and local officials, and they will decide on issues.

Pick a policy and it’s likely to spur disagreement between former President Donald Trump, the Republican nominee, and Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee. Their divisiveness is the latest in years of partisan bickering, and people around the country are feeling stress in their lives due to the election and all its ramifications.

The American Psychological Association commissioned The Harris Poll to tally “Stress in America 2024: A Nation in Political Turmoil.” They announced the national survey found “a country where trust has been shaken in the government and in each other.”

“For nearly a decade, people have faced a political climate that is highly charged, which has led to the erosion of civil discourse and strained our relationships with our friends and our families,” APA CEO Arthur C. Evans Jr., PhD, said in a news release. “But isolating ourselves from our communities is a recipe for adding more stress to our lives.

“We must remember that the most extreme voices are often the loudest, and that the majority of adults share similar values and concerns,” Evans said.

The poll was conducted among 3,305 adults in the United States in August. Sample sizes included 801 Black adults, 855 Hispanic adults and 804 Asian adults. All data come from APA and The Harris Poll.