Election anxiety is causing many Americans to stay away from family and friends, survey finds

Presidential election is already stressful for most Americans – and these stressors can trickle down to relationships.

A new poll from the American Psychological Association (APA) found that 77 percent of Americans believe our nation’s future is a “significant source of stress,” along with the economy (73%) and the upcoming election (69%).

The August 2024 online “Stress in America” survey of 3,000 U.S. adults with varying political views analyzed the potential effects of stress. election results, involved in people’s relationships.

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Nearly a third (32%) of adults say the political climate causes tension between them and family members, while 30% limit the time they spend with family members who do not share the same values.

Half of U.S. adults admitted that tensions around social and political issues make them want to connect less with others, while 28% claimed they have “nothing in common” with people who are different. political views.

Seventy-seven percent of Americans believe the nation’s future is a “significant source of stress,” according to an APA poll. (iStock)

Another survey conducted in August 2024 by LifeStance Health, a mental health care network headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, found that 44% of Americans experienced conflicts in their personal lives due to political or election-related controversies.

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Almost a quarter of the 1,052 adults surveyed ending a friendship while 18% did so due to opposing political views.

‘Political compatibility’

Political affiliation can also come into play when it comes to dating.

The APA found that 46 percent of adults would not date someone with different political views, and that percentage is almost evenly split between men and women.

According to a LifeStance survey, half of Gen Zers think “political compatibility” is an important factor in dating. (iStock)

Half of Gen Zers surveyed by LifeStance said they think “political compatibility” is an important factor in dating, compared to 42% of Millennials, 31% of Gen Xers and 29% of Baby Boomers.

A third (33%) of survey respondents say they would not date someone who disagrees with their political views, while 28% consider it a “deal breaker.”

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Almost a quarter of Generation Z and Generation Y have ended an era romantic relationship due to at least one political dispute.

setting boundaries

A licensed clinical social worker and St. MK Clarkin, executive clinical director of LifeStance Health in St. Louis, Missouri, said she finds it “interesting” that young Americans like Generation Z are prioritizing political like-mindedness in the healthcare industry. their relationships above other generations.

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“These generations are the ones most likely to experience moderate to severe distress during the election cycle, so it makes sense for them to align their relationships with their values ​​and political views,” he told Fox News Digital.

Vice President Kamala Harris (R) and former President Donald Trump during the second presidential debate at the Pennsylvania Convention Center on September 10, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Doug Mills/The New York Times/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

For those wary of engaging in political discussions with friends or family members who hold differing views, Clarkin recommends setting “clear and kind boundaries.”

“This might sound like, ‘I’m so glad to see you, let’s talk about something else. I want to hear how your new job is going,'” he suggested as an example.

“Isolating ourselves from our communities is a recipe for adding more stress to our lives.”

“Or, ‘I feel like you have a lot to say about the election. I’ll apologize for this conversation, but I’d love to connect with you later and learn about other aspects of life.'”

Clarkin also encouraged the use of “I feel” statements to “express your views without increasing tension.”

An expert encourages Americans to “set clear and kind boundaries” when participating in political debates. (iStock)

“No matter which side of the political aisle one is on, election seasons are tough sanity” he said.

“It’s hard to find an area of ​​our personal lives that isn’t directly affected by who wins the election—personal finances, access to healthcare, child care, and education, to name a few.”

‘Listen to understand’

Americans face a “highly tense” political climate that has led to “the erosion of civil discourse and the straining of our relationships with our friends and families,” APA CEO Arthur C. Evans Jr., PhD, said in a press release.

“But isolating ourselves from our communities, more stress “to our lives,” he said.

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

Despite these tensions, healthy social connections are important for “managing and managing stress.” general healthD., APA vice president for professional practice and a licensed psychologist in Maryland. Lynn Bufka told Fox News Digital.

“We don’t have to agree on everything.”

Americans have more in common than they think, Bufka said, as 82% of U.S. adults believe it’s important to have conversations with people who don’t share the same values.

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“Try to understand the person you are talking to and help them feel safe and understood,” he suggested.

Eighty-two percent of U.S. adults believe it’s important to have conversations with people who don’t share the same values, one expert said. (iStock)

“Listen to understand, not to defend your point of view,” Bufka continued. “We don’t have to agree on everything.”

He recommended that people should look for broader qualities in others beyond politics, such as shared values ​​in areas such as kindness, respect and support.

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Bufka added: “Encouraging open dialogue and empathy even in the midst of disagreements enrich relationships and promote resilience to the stressors of political division.”