Changes in Mental Health Following the 2016 Presidential Election.

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Mental Health Research
• Political Science and Health Outcomes

Background:

• The 2016 US presidential election and its associated policy agenda raised significant concerns regarding potential impacts on the mental health of the population.
• Understanding the psychological effects of major political events is crucial for public health preparedness and intervention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate changes in mental health status from before to after the November 2016 presidential election.
• To compare mental health trends in states that voted for Donald Trump versus those that voted for Hillary Clinton.

Main Methods:

• A pre- versus post-election study design was employed, utilizing monthly cross-sectional survey data.
• Data from 499,201 adults were analyzed from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) spanning May 2016 to May 2017.
• Key exposures included residence in a Trump-voting state versus a Clinton-voting state and the margin of victory in those states.

Main Results:

• In Clinton-voting states, mean days of poor mental health per adult increased by 0.50 days (from 3.35 to 3.85) between October and December 2016 (p=0.005).
• No statistically significant change in poor mental health days was observed in Trump-voting states during the same period (from 3.94 to 3.78 days, p=0.308).
• The increase in poor mental health days in Clinton states was concentrated among older adults, women, and white individuals, with rising depression rates noted from January 2017.

Conclusions:

• Following the 2016 election, an additional 54.6 million days of poor mental health were reported by adults in Clinton-voting states compared to the pre-election period.
• Clinicians should recognize that electoral events can precipitate at least temporary increases in poor mental health and adjust patient care strategies accordingly.
• The findings underscore the importance of considering the mental health consequences of political events, especially in anticipation of future elections.