How Divisive Politics Have Hurt Americans

There's a price to pay for political involvement.

Source: StockSnap/Pixabay

Research led by political scientists at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln has confirmed what you probably already know: The barrage of ongoing campaigns, political news, and social media reports have taken a significant toll on the health and well-being of many Americans.

While past political research has mostly centered on the economic toll politics can take on individual citizens, this research included a comprehensive survey containing 32 questions relating to how people view politics as a source of problems in their lives; it may, therefore, reflect the mental health cost to American citizens of the extreme political polarization experienced since the 2016 election.

The survey was distributed to 1.8 million people representing a cross-section of Americans with respect to age, gender, race, income, employment status, church attendance, and other factors; 800 people responded. The researchers found that political differences have, indeed, imposed some high personal costs on the American people. These include damaged friendships, disruption in the workplace, anger, frustration, and feelings of guilt and regret.

While other studies have generally reported significant stress from American politics, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln study is the first to break their results down into specific categories of physical, psychological, social, and emotional issues.

For example, more than 25 percent of survey respondents agreed to the following statements:

• Politics has caused me to be stressed.
• I have become depressed when a preferred candidate lost.
• I have lost my temper as a result of politics.
• Exposure to media outlets promoting views contrary to mine can drive me crazy.
• Politics has led me to hate some people.
• I spend more time thinking about politics than I would like.

More than 15 percent of respondents agreed to these statements:

• Politics has caused me to be fatigued.
• I have lost sleep because of politics.
• Politics has caused me to think seriously about moving.
• I have secretly wished bad things on those who disagree with me politically.
• My life would be better if I didn’t focus so much on politics.
• Differences in political views have created problems for me in my extended family.

And 4 percent of respondents reported that they had even had suicidal thoughts as a result of politics. That may seem like a small number but, as a representative sample, 4 percent translates to 10 million American adults.

As might be expected from a survey taken after the 2016 election, more political stress was perceived by Americans who identify with the left or more liberal side of the political spectrum than the right. In future research, the scientists are interested in finding out if that stress shifts to the other side of the spectrum when a left-leaning person is elected President.