With three weeks to go until the 2024 Election, we’ve all seen far too many political ads and heard one too many arguments about why you should vote for one candidate over the other. So, if you’re feeling stressed out, you’re not alone.
A new survey from Forbes has found that Americans are feeling all types of ways about the election, with 61% saying it’s affecting their mental health. Respondents shared having feelings of anxiety (46%), stress (37%), and feelings of fear (31%) when thinking about the election.
Depending on the generation you were born into, the election may have a bigger impact on your mental health, with 66% of Gen Z saying they were having election anxiety, compared to 64% of millennials, 63% of Gen X, and 56% of baby boomers.
Women were also found to be more likely to experience a negative mental health reaction to the election, with 63% of females reporting it had a negative impact, compared to 58% of males.
Dr. Rufus Tony Spann, a certified school psychologist and Forbes Health Advisory Board member shared with the media outlet that it isn’t out of the ordinary for someone to feel anxious about the election.
“I think election day anxiety is a natural response to the significant decisions we are asked to make,” Spann said.
“I believe some people’s anxiety comes from past post-election results,” Spann continued. “Based on the results of previous elections, some communities felt they needed to prepare for the backlash due to the results of an election.”
When respondents were asked what emotions they had experienced in relation to the recent presidential election, anxiety was the most common felt among the generations. Among Gen Zers, 49% said they’ve recently felt anxious, along with 45% of millennials and Gen X and 44% of baby boomers.
However, not all hope is lost, as the poll found that 27% of respondents were feeling optimistic, with 22% being excited, 16% being happy, and 12% feeling relief.
But for those who can’t feel positive about the election, several shared they are coping with election anxiety by avoiding the news (44%), talking with friends or family (35%), avoiding social media (29%), and exercising more (21%) among other responses.