Kathrine Frich
It wasn’t just the outcome of the election causing turmoil.
It wasn’t just the outcome of the election causing turmoil.
The Mental Health Toll of Trump’s Return to Power
A recently published study has found that Donald Trump’s 2024 re-election campaign caused measurable psychological strain among young Americans.
This is particularly due to relentless news coverage and the emotionally charged political climate.
Researchers Link Election Stress to Anxiety and Depression
The study, published in Psychiatry Research, tracked 778 young adults from the early COVID-19 pandemic through early 2025.
Researchers examined how different phases of the election process impacted mental health, and the results are concerning.
The 2024 Campaign Was Unusually Stressful
The 2024 race was no ordinary campaign.
Against a backdrop of deep political division, threats to democracy, and fears of election-related violence, many young Americans reported emotional exhaustion long before election day arrived.
A Constant Source of Distress
It wasn’t just the outcome of the election causing turmoil.
The study found that continuous news coverage, especially on social media, was a major factor linked to rising levels of anxiety and depression.
Simply put, people couldn’t unplug.
Pre-Election Anxiety Was the Most Damaging
Interestingly, the anticipation phase, the stressful lead-up to the election, had a stronger association with depression than the result itself.
For many, the months of waiting and speculating took a deeper toll than the outcome.
Not as Emotionally Devastating as Expected
Surprisingly, the study found that stress related to Trump’s actual win didn’t significantly predict anxiety or depression.
Researchers theorize that many people had emotionally prepared for the result or felt detached from the process altogether.
Vulnerable Groups Were Hit Hardest
Young people identifying as part of gender or sexual minorities, or those experiencing high financial stress, were especially affected.
Many reported feeling personally threatened by campaign rhetoric and policy discussions dominating the media.
Key Issues Hit Close to Home
Topics like transgender rights and reproductive healthcare were major stressors for affected groups.
The fear that policies might directly harm them led to deeper levels of emotional distress and greater psychological vulnerability.
Even Avoiding Politics Didn’t Help
The study showed that avoiding politics wasn’t enough.
The sheer ubiquity of political content, especially on social platforms, made it almost impossible for young people to escape, and that heightened feelings of helplessness and fear.
The Hidden Impact of Political News Overload
Participants who followed election news most closely were more likely to meet clinical thresholds for depression and anxiety.
Constant exposure, not the vote itself, was the real psychological trigger for many.
Experts Call for Mental Health Support
Researchers concluded that election-related stress deserves more attention from mental health professionals.
They recommend proactive mental health support in the lead-up to major political events. especially for vulnerable populations.
