Election-related health decline is happening right now
Key Takeaways
Election season can have negative impacts on physical and mental health.
Keeping an eye out for health decline and directing people to support may help them avoid, or recover faster, from any detrimental effects.
Election season can negatively impact people’s mental well-being, which may have rollover effects on their physical health. Studies have shown that self-reported symptoms of depression and anxiety can peak around elections and that psychological distress can be elevated during campaign periods, on Election Day, and following an election.[][]
Additionally, election periods may come with heightened risks of respiratory infections, gastrointestinal conditions, and the spread of diseases like COVID-19.[2] In some cases, physical health may be impacted as a side effect of mental health consequences, like stress. In contrast, in other cases, it may be impacted by campaign or election actions that increase risks of injuries and illnesses.
With the 2024 presidential election approaching, it can be a good idea to assess any unhealthy side effects the race may have on your patients’—and your own—well-being.
What we know about elections and mental health
Elections can directly and indirectly impact health. Particularly for people in marginalized or targeted groups, studies suggest that elections increase anxiety and psychological distress. This has been demonstrated in the United States and other countries, including India and Taiwan.[]
In the US, stress during elections has been studied across many presidential years, and researchers have suggested an upward trend over election months. For instance, a study on the 2020 presidential election found that stress levels during months around the election were even higher than those during the COVID-19 lockdown periods that April.[] Another study found that some young adults had elevated cortisol levels—which can increase stress levels—during the 2016 US presidential election. A study on the 2008 US election found increases in cortisol and decreases in testosterone—which can affect aggression, low mood, anxiety, and anxious depression—among supporters of the losing party.[]
In addition to mental distress’s rollover effects on physical health, elections can have a more direct impact on physical health by encouraging travel and large social gatherings—such as campaign rallies—which can be breeding grounds for communicable diseases, including COVID-19. Election workers can also be at risk of illnesses, injuries, or overexertion.
More media, more mental health issues?
Michelle English, LCSW, the co-founder and executive clinical manager at Healthy Life Recovery, says she’s noticed how “higher political tensions and media saturation can worsen stress among people,” particularly during the presidential race.
“Many debates are held on different channels across the world, including Twitter, where millions discuss their feelings toward candidates they don’t even know personally but feel so strongly about…because they believe one will represent them better than another,” English says. “During such seasons, a person usually experiences increasing psychological distress, which may show up like anxiety or anger, while others may get depressed about it all together at once.”
It’s important not to ignore these mental health impacts and to encourage people to seek help if feeling physically or mentally unwell. English adds that while mental health issues can be huge challenges on their own, they can also lead to devastating physical consequences that might require further treatment.
“Chronic stress experienced during election seasons can lead to various physical ailments, including headaches, high blood pressure, and worsening of preexisting medical conditions like heart disease,” English says.
According to the American Psychological Association (APA), chronic stress can harm multiple systems in the body, including the gastrointestinal, musculoskeletal, reproductive, respiratory, nervous, endocrine, and cardiovascular systems.[]
Elections may also impact people’s day-to-day activities or encourage unhealthy coping strategies. English says to be mindful that some patients may respond to the election by increasing unhealthy behaviors, such as overeating, using substances, or not getting enough sleep.
It’s not just individuals that can take a hit. English explains that elections can have a negative impact on some relationships, particularly among people whose loved ones hold different political views than them.
“Personal relationships, and even community peace, can be disrupted,” English says. “Elections cause a lot of stress on individuals from different communities due to fear of violence or any other form of conflict that might arise after elections.”
She recommends seeking help or directing loved ones to help if they are experiencing physical or mental health consequences of an election. If your patient is experiencing a condition outside of your expertise, you may want to refer them to another specialist or give them information about where they can find the best type of help.
Some examples of providers or services that may help different types of patients during election season include:
Group counseling services for people experiencing community distress
Personal counseling services for people experiencing individual distress
Psychology services for mental health
Psychiatric services for mental health
General health providers for physical health evaluations or advice on next steps
Nutrition counseling for people who struggle with healthy nutrition during the election
Substance use services for people who struggle with substance use during the election
Specialists like cardiologists or gastroenterologists for people dealing with more intense physical health impacts during an election
Emergency services for people who experience an emergency at campaign rallies, polling place, or other places
What this means for you
Election season can increase risks for physical and mental health complications. Taking care of yourself and your patients can involve assessing physical, emotional, and behavioral changes since the start of the campaign season and directing people to, or seeking out, appropriate care.