As the election approaches, people across the nation are feeling the anxiety and tension that comes with heightened political polarization. And, experts say, children and teenagers are also likely absorbing some of that stress.
“We certainly have a very high suspicion that kids feel anxious about the election,” said Dr. Steven Schlozman, the chief of child psychiatry at UVM Children’s Hospital.
Although researchers suspect children’s election anxiety is similar to that experienced by adults, data specific to the effect on kids is scarce. That’s why researchers like Schlozman, along with political science professor Ellen Andersen and others at the University of Vermont, are taking a closer look.
They plan to look at national data on youth mental health in relation to areas with deep political division in search of a potential connection. UVM is part of the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study in the U.S. — a study that will follow approximately 10,000 children at 19 sites beginning at ages nine to 10 and track their biological and behavioral development through adolescence into young adulthood.
According to Schlozman, legislative actions can have a direct impact on some children, for instance those that either oppose or support minority gender orientations.
“These kids are feeling that distress more directly and that makes sense because those laws actually literally affect them,” he said, adding that children are affected by the debate surrounding these laws, regardless of which side they or their families support.
There are common signs that may indicate a child is struggling with politics-related stress or election anxiety, Schlozman said. Parents can monitor several behaviors that children with increased anxiety may exhibit, including changes in sleep patterns, appetite and social withdrawal.
At the UVM Department of Political Science, the term “political sectarianism” comes up frequently. It describes the deepening division in society where political allegiances become so intense that opposing groups are seen as morally corrupt or fundamentally flawed.
“You make the other side into an ‘other’, and then you associate that othering with inequity or shame. In other words, people who don’t agree with you ought to be shamed,” said Schlozman. “Once you’ve done that, you cut off communication. It’s nearly impossible to have a debate or any kind of civil interaction because you’ve decided that the person you’re talking to is so different from you that there can be no common area.”
Schlozman shared advice for parents whose children show signs of engaging in political sectarianism.
“Any time they start talking about someone with whom they don’t agree as being less than them, you want to step in, not in a scolding way but in a thoughtful way and say ‘wait, let’s try to put our feet in the other person’s shoes,’” said Schlozman. “You want to understand how they got there and that creates empathy.”
Parents can support their children’s participation in the political sphere, said Schlozman, who emphasized the importance of empowering children to engage. He said children with strong political beliefs want and can engage actively in the political process, even if they aren’t old enough to vote.
“Teenagers want to debate, they’re coming of age, they’re figuring out what they think about the world and the way to get there is by having a debate,” said Schlozman. “If we can’t engage around these issues in a civil way, that’s a terrible lesson to show kids.”
He also recommended that parents keep emotions in check when discussing politics with their children, as children are more likely to absorb an emotional response rather than engage in a civil discussion.
“Whenever you get worked up about something you hear on the radio or see on the news, reserve that level of outrage for a setting without your kids,” he said. One tip Schlozman offered parents is to explain their family values to their children instead of answering questions with “because.” Helping children understand their parents’ perspectives can foster a sense of agency, he said.
Parents feeling overwhelmed by political stress should turn to each other for support, according to Schlozman. He said maintaining a sense of control is essential for effective parenting and encourages open communication with partners, spouses, friends and neighbors. By relying on their support networks, parents can better manage their anxiety and create a more stable environment for their children during challenging times.
Read the story on VTDigger here: A Vermont expert offers advice for helping kids navigate election stress.