Election anxiety is causing many Americans to avoid family and friends, study finds

Presidential elections are already stress for most Americans – and these stressors can creep into the relationship.

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

The Stress in America online survey, which surveyed 3,000 American adults of varying political views in August 2024, analyzed the potential impacts election results, including in relationships between people.

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About a third (32%) of adults said the political climate has caused tension between them and family members, and 30% have limited time spent with family members who do not share the same values.

Half of American adults said tensions around social and political issues make them less likely to interact with others, and 28% said they have “nothing in common” with people who hold different views. Political Views.

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

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Nearly a quarter of the 1,052 adults surveyed had considered ending friendship because of opposing political views, and 18% did so.

“Political Compatibility”

Political affiliation can also matter when it comes to dating.

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

Half of Gen Z respondents in the LifeStance survey said they consider “political compatibility” an important dating factor, compared with 42% of millennials, 31% of Gen X and 29% of baby boomers.

A third (33%) of all respondents said they would not date someone who disagreed with their political views, and 28% would consider it a “deal breaker.”

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Nearly a quarter of Gen Z and millennials have completed romantic relationship due to at least one political disagreement.

Setting boundaries

M. K. Clarkin, a licensed clinical social worker and executive clinical director of LifeStance Health in St. Louis, Missouri, said she finds it “interesting” that younger Americans like Generation Z are prioritizing political like-mindedness in their relationship higher than other generations.

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“These generations are the most likely to experience moderate to significant stress during the election cycle, so it’s understandable that they align their relationships with their values ​​and political views,” she told Fox News Digital.

For those who are afraid to engage in political discussions with friends or family members who have different opinions, Clarkin recommends setting “clear and kind boundaries.”

“It 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,” she offered as an example.

“Isolating ourselves from society is a recipe for more stress in our lives.”

“Or: “I feel like you have something to say about the election. I’m going to apologize for this conversation, but I would like to contact you later and talk about other aspects of life.”

Clarkin also encouraged the use of “I feel” phrases to “express your views without escalating tensions.”

“Regardless of which side of the political spectrum a person is on, election season tends to be difficult. mental health“, she said.

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

“Listen to understand”

Americans are facing a “very tense” political climate that has led to “an erosion of civil dialogue and a strain on our relationships with our friends and families,” APA CEO Arthur Evans Jr., Ph.D., said in a press release.

“But isolation from our communities is a recipe for adding more stress into our lives,” he said.

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

Despite these tensions, healthy social connections are “important for managing stress and general health” Dr. Lynn Bufka, APA associate director of professional practice and a licensed psychologist in Maryland, told Fox News Digital.

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

Bufka noted that Americans have more in common than they think, as 82% of American adults believe it is important to communicate with people who do not share the same values.

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“Try to understand the person you’re talking to and help them feel safe and understood,” she suggested.

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

She believes people should look for broader qualities in others that go 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 face of disagreement, can enrich relationships and build resilience to stressors resulting from political divisions.”