The US presidential election is in full swing, with Democratic candidate Kamala Harris facing off against Republican Donald Trump. Exit polls reveal that 73% of voters worry about the future of democracy, while only 25% feel it is secure. Democracy and the economy top the list of concerns, followed closely by abortion and immigration.
The election stress is taking a toll on Americans, with 17% - almost 45 million people - reporting election stress that's negatively impacted their sleep, according to the National Sleep Foundation. This stress cuts across political parties, with people sleeping less on weekends and experiencing poorer sleep quality overall.
Election Stress Facts:
Anxiety and Sleep: Anxiety and sleeplessness are interrelated, with those experiencing anxiety getting poorer sleep and those who don't sleep well being more prone to anxiety.
Sleep Quality: Those worried about the election have an average sleep quality of 3.36, compared to 2.05 for those not affected by politics.
Sleep Duration: People affected by the election sleep about 7 hours on weekends, nearly half an hour less than those unaffected.
The dynamics of stressful societal events like elections and election day can adversely affect the public’s mood, and in turn sleep health, which is critical for health and well-beingJoseph Dzierzweski, Senior Vice President for Research and Scientific Affairs at the National Sleep Foundation (NSF)
This election has been marked by unusual events, including two assassination attempts against Trump and President Biden's unexpected exit. Harris's rapid rise as the Democratic nominee has also made headlines. It's essential to address sleep health during periods of high stress, as emphasized by Joseph Dzierzweski, senior vice president for research and scientific affairs at the National Sleep Foundation.
Trump, who has questioned the 2020 election outcome, voted near his home in Palm Beach. Harris spent Election Day encouraging people to vote on radio and planned to speak at Howard University, her alma mater.
The race is extremely close, with Harris and Trump nearly tied in key battleground states like Pennsylvania, Arizona, and Georgia. If Harris wins, she'll make history as the first woman, Black woman, and South Asian American to become president. If Trump wins, he'll be the first president in over a century to serve non-consecutive terms.
(Input From Various Sources)
(Rehash/Neha Kamble/MSM)