2020 has been filled with many unknowns causing stressors for many Americans. One source of stress has been the upcoming election. Christopher Federico, PhD, professor in the Departments of Political Science and Psychology at the University of Minnesota, explains why the 2020 election has been so stressful for many in a Today article titled “Most Americans are experiencing 'significant' election stress. Here's how to cope.” One cause of stress stems from the strong political divides between political parties. One major part of this divide is “social sorting” a phenomenon that describes when ideology and identity become tied to politics, this can lead to an increase in animosity and result in political differences feeling like personal attacks. Additionally, the length of the election, from campaigning to election night, leads to increased stress as it becomes a prolonged stressor. Finally, this year, there’s more at stake as people worry not just about their party winning but actually having power.
Composed by Flora Pollack, communications assistant.