Young adults’ psychological and physiological reactions to the 2016 U.S. presidential election

Abstract

Elections present unique opportunities to study how sociopolitical events influence individual processes. The current study examined 286 young adults' mood and diurnal cortisol responses to the 2016 U.S. presidential election in real-time: two days before the election, election night, and two days after the election of Donald Trump, with the goal of understanding whether (and the extent to which) the election influenced young adults' affective and biological states. Utilizing piecewise trajectory analyses, we observed high, and increasing, negative affect leading up to the election across all participants. Young adults who had negative perceptions of Trump's ability to fulfill the role of president and/or were part of a non-dominant social group (i.e., women, ethnic/racial minority young adults) reported increased signs of stress before the election and on election night. After the election, we observed a general "recovery" in self-reported mood; however, diurnal cortisol indicators suggested that there was an increase in biological stress among some groups. Overall, findings underscore the role of macro-level factors in individuals' health and well-being via more proximal attitudes and physiological functioning.

Contextual Relational Uncertainty Model: Understanding Ambiguity in a Changing Sociopolitical Context of Marriage

“…Societal events such as elections and Supreme Court decisions offer the opportunity to understand how sociopolitical transitions affect individuals (e.g., Hoyt, Zeiders, Chaku, Toomey, & Nair, ). Indeed, the polarizing 2016 presidential election created concerns and stress for many individuals (Hoyt et al, ). Similarly, it has been argued that the Supreme Court's 2015 Obergefell v. Hodges decision has influenced individuals' perceptions of public opinion on same‐sex marriage (Tankard & Paluck, ).…”

Conducting psychotherapy in the Trump era: Therapists’ perspectives on political self‐disclosure, the therapeutic alliance, and politics in the therapy room

“…Farber () argued that “Trump's election as president of the United States seems to have generated more in‐session psychotherapeutic discussions than any political issue since 9/11,” an opinion more likely to be shared by many mental health professionals. Emerging data suggests that the presidential elections negatively impacted the psychological well‐being of youth and adults (DeJonckheere, Fisher, & Change, ; Hagan, Sladek, Luecken, & Doane, ; Hoyt, Zeiders, Chaku, Toomey, & Nair, ; Majumder, Nguyen, Sacoo, Mahan, & Brownstein, ). The current study is the first to empirically examine the effects of the Trump administration on in‐session processes from the therapists’ perspective.…”

Editorial: Critical Race Theory: Why Should We Care about Applying It in our Research?

“…Evidence suggests that the divisiveness characterizing Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign and the constancy of his disparaging remarks about anyone who disagrees with his agenda or discourse is already having adverse mental health effects. 4 All of these add up to direct and indirect tolls on the nation's health, especially for those of us for whom race is part of our ascribed and/or self-identity. 4 As scientists, we must be responsibly conscious of finding ways to design research studies and produce solid evidence within the context of the societal structure where race, racialization and racial relationships take place.…”

“…4 All of these add up to direct and indirect tolls on the nation's health, especially for those of us for whom race is part of our ascribed and/or self-identity. 4 As scientists, we must be responsibly conscious of finding ways to design research studies and produce solid evidence within the context of the societal structure where race, racialization and racial relationships take place. 4 commentaries applying CRT to current issues or public health education.…”

“…4 As scientists, we must be responsibly conscious of finding ways to design research studies and produce solid evidence within the context of the societal structure where race, racialization and racial relationships take place. 4 commentaries applying CRT to current issues or public health education. We present these articles in three domains: Defining CRT, Applying CRT and Training the Next Generation.…”