Poll shows 2020 election source of significant stress for Americans

An expert we spoke to said says this election year has come between families and friends, which can add to stress people experience. With uncertainty looming, anxiety can get worse.

But the voters we spoke to Monday say, now that their ballots are turned in, all they can do is sit back and hope their candidate comes out on top.

Still, the year has been full of stress and anxiety for many nationwide, starting with the lingering pandemic, protests and now the culmination of a presidential election.

“I internally stress. I am nervous, but I’m trying to be confident,” said Tonya Navarro, who voted for Democratic nominee Joe Biden. “You put it out there, good. Then, hopefully it’ll come out good.”

The American Psychological Association’s “Stress in America” poll found, although the election is bringing stress to the majority of American adults, it changes when broken down by party affiliation.

Stress is higher in Democrats this time around, coming in at 76%. Republicans and voters with no part affiliation hover in the mid 60 percentile.

Bernie Lemos is confident in his vote for the president.

“I feel that he might have to sharpen his pencil, but we all have to learn, the good, the bad, and we have to perform better even going into the second term,” said Lemos, who voted for President Donald Trump.

Dr. Laura Streyffeler, a licensed mental health counselor, sees the election stress rising in her practice. She told us, combined with all the other stress factors in their lives, many of her clients are ready for this election to be over.

“We can’t control who wins, but we can control how we respond to it and what we are going to do and how we’re going to move forward regardless of the outcome,” Streyffeler said.

That’s exactly what Navarro is trying to do, now that her ballot hit the ballot box.

“It’s said and done. It’s all over with after this,” Navarro said. “It is what it is and that’s just that. Ain’t nothing I can do to change anything after this.”

Supervisors of elections say, if you do have a mail-in ballot, drop it off on Election Day. If you are voting in person, get ready to wait in line. The polls open at seven in the morning and close at seven in the evening.

MORE: 2020 Presidential Election a Source of Significant Stress for More Americans than 2016 Presidential Race