Podcast Summary
Political climate causes stress for many Americans: Over half of Americans find elections stressful, and political climate is a significant stressor for many, impacting mental and physical well-being
The political climate, particularly the upcoming elections, is a significant source of stress for a large portion of the population. According to the American Psychological Association's Stress in America poll, over half of Americans find the elections stressful, and a majority believe that the future of the nation is a significant stressor. This political stress can have negative effects on individuals' mental and physical well-being. Doctors Brett Ford and Kevin Smith, our guests on Speaking of Psychology, have researched the emotional and psychological aspects of politics from different perspectives. Ford, an assistant professor of psychology at the University of Toronto, came to the topic from a stress research background and found that politics qualifies as a chronic stressor. Smith, a professor of political science at the University of Nebraska Lincoln, approached the topic from a genetic perspective and found that people's cortisol levels, a marker of stress, are correlated to their political engagement. These findings highlight the importance of understanding the emotional and psychological consequences of the political climate and the potential for interventions to help individuals manage political stress.
Politics as a significant source of chronic stress: Politics can cause regular negative emotions and intense stress, impacting individuals' psychological, emotional, and social well-being
Politics can be a unique and significant source of chronic stress for individuals, affecting their psychological, emotional, and social well-being. This stress can stem from identity-based and group-based conflicts, as well as larger structural issues. Politics is nearly impossible to avoid due to the ubiquity of news and social media, making it a constant presence in people's lives. A study conducted by Dr. Ford revealed that people experience negative emotions related to politics on a regular basis, with intense emotions occurring frequently. These findings suggest that the impact of politics on stress levels and overall well-being is a crucial area for further research.
Politics as a Major Source of Stress for Americans: Politics significantly impacts mental and potentially physical health, leading to stress, disrupted sleep, regrettable actions, and even suicidal ideation for large percentages of Americans. Further research is needed to understand the long-term implications and potential differences in stress levels between political parties or demographics.
Politics is having a significant negative impact on the mental and potentially physical health of Americans. According to surveys conducted by doctor Smith and his team, large percentages of Americans identify politics as a major source of stress, leading to disrupted sleep patterns, regrettable actions, and even suicidal ideation. While politics may not be the most immediate stressor for individuals, its long-term implications make it a significant concern. Research suggests that political stress can be separate from more generalized measures of anxiety and stress. However, there are no significant partisan differences in day-to-day experiences of stress about politics. But when looking at macro-level events, there may be differences in stress levels between political parties or demographics. Overall, politics is a significant stressor that warrants attention and further research.
Partisan effects on emotional responses to political events: Younger people, politically interested individuals, and those with strong negative views towards opposing parties report higher emotional stress and anxiety during political wins and losses.
There are significant partisan effects on emotional responses to political events, with younger people, those more interested in politics, and those holding strong negative views of political opposites reporting higher levels of stress and anxiety. These patterns hold particularly in the context of clear wins and losses. The impact of political atmosphere on emotional well-being in countries with absolute rulers is less clear, and further research is needed. Overall, humans tend to respond emotionally to threatening events, but individual resilience and coping abilities can vary, potentially leading to important downstream consequences. The importance of understanding these patterns and their implications for mental health and engagement in various political contexts warrants further investigation.
Politics and Emotions in the Digital Age: The emotional response to politics in the digital age may be heightened due to the lack of gatekeepers and emotional provocation design of social media. Emotions serve a purpose, but managing negative emotions through disengagement can have trade-offs, including the loss of motivation to take political action.
While politics has always caused stress and anxiety in various degrees throughout history, the current information environment, characterized by the lack of gatekeepers and the emotional provocation design of social media, may be contributing to a unique level of emotional response. However, it's important to note that emotions serve a purpose and help us take action. Strategies to manage negative emotions, such as disengagement, can be effective for daily life and mental health, but they may also come with trade-offs, including the loss of motivation to take political action. This finding, as a political scientist, is particularly concerning.
Acknowledging negative emotions and cultivating positive ones can lead to a healthier democratic process.: Focusing on positive emotions and socially connected experiences can lead to uplifting emotions, motivation, and long-term engagement in democracy, while excessive focus on mitigating negative emotions can be detrimental.
While negative emotions can motivate civic engagement, excessive focus on mitigating these emotions through disengagement can be detrimental to democracy. Instead, focusing on positive emotions and socially connected experiences can lead to uplifting emotions, motivation, and long-term engagement. However, it's important to note that individual differences exist, and some people may enjoy politics as a contact sport and derive emotional sustenance from it. Overall, our research suggests that acknowledging negative emotions and cultivating positive ones, while engaging in civic life, can lead to a healthier democratic process.
The heritability of political beliefs: Research suggests that political beliefs, particularly conservative and liberal ideologies, have a genetic component. Identical twins are more politically similar than fraternal twins, and studies provide evidence that ideology is heritable, with estimates ranging from 30% to 60%.
The political climate during this election year has left many voters feeling stuck between two unfavorable major party candidates, leading to a sense of learned helplessness and potential negative action. This situation is more intense than in previous years, and research suggests that political beliefs, specifically conservative and liberal ideologies, have a genetic component. Identical twins are more politically similar than fraternal twins, and adoption studies, twin studies rating race apart, and genome-wide association scans all provide evidence that ideology is heritable, with estimates ranging from 30% to 60%. This understanding of the heritability of political beliefs could lead to a better understanding of the electorate and potentially more effective political strategies.
Maintaining Mental Health During Political Stress: Acknowledge emotions, connect with others, increase political knowledge, and trust democratic institutions to manage conflict and ensure the republic's survival.
During times of political stress and uncertainty, such as during elections, it's important to acknowledge and accept our emotions rather than trying to suppress them. Connecting with people, both those who share our values and those who don't, can help us maintain our mental health and well-being. Additionally, increasing political knowledge and understanding the democratic process can help reduce anxiety and stress. The institutions of our political system are designed to manage conflict, and they have proven to be resilient. While the outcome of elections may not always be ideal, the republic has the ability to survive. As political scientists, we are conducting research related to the 2024 election to better understand how people are dealing with politics and the impact on their mental health and well-being.
Exploring the Fascinating World of Psychology: Stay informed and engaged with psychological research and insights by tuning into Speaking of Psychology. Join a community of curious minds and expand your knowledge of human behavior.
Learning from today's episode of Speaking of Psychology is the importance of staying informed and engaged with psychological research and insights. By tuning in to this podcast, you're joining a community of curious minds who are committed to expanding their knowledge and understanding of human behavior. Whether you listen on our website, Apple, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts, we're grateful for your support and your feedback. If you have ideas for future episodes or want to share your thoughts, please don't hesitate to email us at speakingofpsychology@apa.org. Together, we can continue exploring the fascinating world of psychology and its impact on our lives. And remember, if you find value in what you hear, please consider subscribing and leaving us a review. Thank you for joining us today, and we look forward to continuing the conversation with you.