Rob Ludacer
Breaking: This is a miserable presidential election.
The tone has gotten ugly in ways that are painful and difficult to watch. It's hard to imagine it not impacting the national mood. And a Harris poll commissioned by the American Psychological Association confirms it: 52% of US adults "report the 2016 election is a very or somewhat significant source of stress."
The effect appears powerful among Democrats, Republicans, males, females, the young, and the old. At least we can all agree on this, it seems: We're very stressed out about this election.
The only demographic factor that makes a major difference in stress levels: Engagement with social media. Fifty-four percent of social media users say the election is a stressor in their lives, while a still-large 45% of non-users say the same.
Stress isn't a joke. It measurably shortens your life. Here are some tips the APA offers for dealing with it: