Is the presidential election causing you stress? You're not alone, study says - SILive.com

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Whether you're "with her," or are a fan of "The Donald," you've likely engaged in political conversations surrounding the upcoming presidential election.

And, if you've experienced opposition to your political views, you may have found yourself in a somewhat heated argument.

If this is the case, you're not alone. And, to say the least, it's stressful.

For this reason, the American Psychological Association (APA) conducted an online study among adults 18+ living in the U.S. The study revealed that 52 percent of American adults report that the 2016 election is "a very or somewhat significant" source of stress.

"We're seeing that it doesn't matter whether you're registered as a Democrat or Republican — U.S. adults say they are experiencing significant stress from the current election," said Lynn Bufka, PhD, APA's associate executive director for practice research and policy.

Across party lines, those registered as Democrats (55 percent) and Republicans (59 percent) are statistically equally likely to say the election is a very or somewhat significant source of stress.

"Election stress becomes exacerbated by arguments, stories, images and video on social media that can heighten concern and frustration, particularly with thousands of comments that can range from factual to hostile or even inflammatory," said Bufka.

SOCIAL MEDIA STRESS

The survey revealed that social media appears to affect Americans' stress levels when it comes to the election and related topics. Nearly four in 10 adults (38 percent) say that political and cultural discussions on social media cause them stress.

In addition, adults who use social media are more likely than adults who do not to say the election is a very or somewhat significant source of stress (54 percent vs. 45 percent, respectively).

MILLENNIALS -VS- GEN XERS

While men and women are equally likely -- 51 percent vs. 52 percent, respectively -- to say the 2016 U.S. presidential election is a very or somewhat significant source of stress, election stress differs among generations of Americans.

Millennials are the most likely to say the election is a very or somewhat significant source of stress (56 percent vs. 59 percent, respectively) — significantly more than Generation Xers (45 percent), but not boomers (50 percent).

TIPS FOR STRESS REDUCTION

APA offers the following tips to help people manage their stress related to the election:

• If the 24-hour news cycle of claims and counterclaims from the candidates is causing you stress, limit your media consumption. Read just enough to stay informed. Turn off the newsfeed or take a digital break.
• Avoid getting into discussions about the election if you think they have the potential to escalate to conflict. Be cognizant of the frequency with which you're discussing the election with friends, family members or coworkers.
• Stress and anxiety about what might happen is not productive. Channel your concerns to make a positive difference on issues you care about. Consider volunteering in your community, advocating for an issue you support or joining a local group.
• Whatever happens on Nov. 8, life will go on. Our political system and the three branches of government mean that we can expect a significant degree of stability immediately after a major transition of government.
• Vote. In a democracy, a citizen's voice does matter. By voting, you will hopefully feel you are taking a proactive step and participating in what for many has been a stressful election cycle.

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