Election day stress weighing on you? Recent studies suggest you're not alone

With the general election – including a razor-thin presidential contest – just a few days out, voters are feeling stressed.

Dr. Douglas Zatzick, a University of Washington Medicine psychiatrist who practices at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, said if you’re feeling unsettled about the results of Tuesday’s election – whatever they may be – you’re not alone.

“Anxiety is actually a very common and natural response,” Zatzick said in a UW news release.

“What it is, is feelings of uncertainty, anticipation, tension about the upcoming election,” he continued. “Everybody is experiencing it; 70% actually, so take care of yourself, indulge yourself and surround yourself with good people.”

In a video posted by UW Medicine, Zatzick said taking stock of how social media influences you can help.

“Folks who are constantly checking social media and aren’t aware of feeds that are going to drive them into tense or anxiety states, that would be an important subgroup of folks to check in with,” he said.

He suggested that people connect with friends who share similar hopes for the election outcome and who can offer support regardless of the results.

A recent report from the American Psychological Association found “more than 7 in 10 adults reported the future of our nation (77%) as a significant source of stress in their lives, making it the most common source of significant stress in this year’s survey. The economy was the second most common, with 73% of adults having reported it as a significant source of stress. The 2024 U.S. presidential election followed closely at 69%.”

The APA report also found that stress related to the 2024 election is driven largely by concern about the outcome.

“More than 7 in 10 adults (72%) were worried the election results could lead to violence, and more than half of adults (56%) said they believe the presidential election could be the end of democracy in the U.S.,” the report said.

Some 41% of adults in the APA report said the state of the nation has made them consider moving to a different country, and 39% indicated that the political environment in their state has made them consider moving to a different state.

On a positive note, the APA report found that slightly more than half of adults said they feel more compelled to volunteer or support causes they value because of the state of the nation, up from 45% ahead of the 2020 general election.