Most Americans Want to Avoid Politics During the Holidays

After a divisive election campaign, a survey of U.S. adults has found that a majority want to avoid political discussions, and for some, the family members they disagree with, over the holidays. "Leading up to the 2024 presidential election, many Americans faced prolonged worry and uncertainty, which can significantly impact our well-being and relationships," said American Psychological Association (APA) CEO, Dr Arthur C Evans Jr. "Avoiding conflict is not the same as coping with stress. If we distance ourselves from others due to anticipated disagreements, we risk losing the relationships and communities that are crucial for our well-being, especially during stressful times." Before the election, the APA's Stress in America 2024 Survey revealed that more than three-quarters of adults (77 percent) said the future of the nation was a significant source of stress in their lives. To see how that may have changed after the election, The Harris Poll conducted a survey on behalf of APA among more than 2,000 U.S. adults aged 18 and over between November 25 and 27, 2024. The survey found more than one-third of adults (35 percent) said they are more stressed about the future of the nation now than leading up to the election - with another third saying they are now less stressed (32 percent). Meanwhile, about one quarter of adults (24 percent) said their stress about the future of the nation was unchanged and 9 percent said they were not stressed about the future of the nation then or now.

A Time to Forget Politics The vast majority of people (83 percent) agreed that the holidays are a time to forget political differences, regardless of whether their preferred candidate won or lost the election or if they felt more or less stressed about the future of our nation now than they did leading up to the election. Despite the political and societal strains that may persist following the election, more than 7 in 10 adults (71 percent) said that celebrating the holidays this year will be a welcome distraction from their stress. "Despite the tensions leading up to the election, people have consistently shown that they value meaningful relationships with friends and family over political disagreements," said Evans. "While conversations around politics and other sensitive topics can be challenging, seeking to understand different perspectives can strengthen and enrich our relationships." Advice for Sensitive Conversations The APA offers the following advice to people wishing to manage sensitive holiday conversations: • Be open and kind. Listen and ask questions to help you understand the other person, not to craft a counterargument.
• Find areas where you agree. You may disagree about certain topics but share the same underlying values.
• Accept that you may not change the other person's mind. Instead, use the conversation as an opportunity to speak about your own experiences.
• Remember that the holidays are about bringing people together, not driving them apart, and focus on good memories that you and your family members have in common.
• Know when to end the conversation. If you find yourself getting worked up, try taking deep breaths, changing the topic of conversation or suggesting another activity — but reinforce that you value the relationship you share with the other person.