"나라 Manghalla" 7 out of 10 Americans Struggle with Election Stress

American Psychological Association Survey Results
72% of Respondents "Concerned About Violence Due to Presidential Election Outcome"

Ahead of the U.S. presidential election, 7 out of 10 Americans reported experiencing severe stress in their daily lives due to the election. Many voters expressed concerns that violence could erupt or that the end of American democracy might come depending on the election outcome. As the presidential race between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris shows a 'neck-and-neck' pattern, voters have revealed significant worries about the impact the election results could have on future U.S. politics and society.

Former U.S. President and presidential candidate Donald Trump (left in photo, Republican) and Vice President Kamala Harris (Democratic Party) [Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

Bloomberg News recently reported this based on a survey conducted by the American Psychological Association (APA) involving a sample of 3,305 adults. According to the report, 69% of adult respondents in the U.S. said they experience considerable stress in their daily lives due to the presidential election. This response rate was 17 percentage points higher than just before the 2016 election and 1 percentage point above that of 2020.

The survey asked about sources of stress for Americans. The top response was "the future of the United States" (77%), followed by concerns about the U.S. economy at 73%, which was also high. Election-related stress ranked third, followed by U.S. politics at 62% in fourth place. The overall average stress level was 5 out of 10, similar to previous years, the association stated. The APA analyzed, "The most commonly cited sources of stress were election-related or political issues," adding, "This reflects Americans suffering from existential stress ahead of the election."

In particular, more than 7 out of 10 respondents worried about the possibility of violence resulting from this election's outcome. Additionally, 56% of respondents believed this year's election could mark the end of American democracy.

These concerns appear to stem from previous election experiences. In January 2021, supporters of then-candidate Trump, who refused to accept the election results, stormed the Capitol. Former President Trump is currently on trial for inciting the Capitol riot through his refusal speeches. Ahead of this election, the Republican Party has also raised the possibility of contesting the results by announcing plans to deploy election monitoring teams.

In fact, a CNN survey conducted with polling firm SSRS involving about 1,000 registered voters nationwide found that only 30% of respondents expected former President Trump to accept defeat if he lost. In contrast, 73% said Vice President Harris would accept the results if she lost, more than double Trump's rate. While 9 out of 10 respondents believed that "once all states officially certify the election results, the losing candidate has an obligation to concede," they also saw a high likelihood of refusal in reality.

As concerns over the election outcome grow, the number of voters feeling anxious is increasing. More than 8 out of 10 respondents worried that their views could be shaped by fake or inaccurate information, and 2 out of 5 adults said they had considered emigrating to another country due to the nation's situation.

Bloomberg pointed out, "Election stress causes economic costs," noting, "Stress and anxiety take a toll on the body, and these emotions affect how people work, consume, and save. This has a significant economic impact." While the election results do not greatly affect the macroeconomy, Bloomberg added that there is a tendency to postpone purchases such as homes or cars.