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WASHINGTON โ As the dust settles on another contentious election year, many Americans are preparing for family gatherings with one primary goal: avoiding political arguments at all costs.
A recent survey by the American Psychological Association (APA) reveals a telling portrait of post-election exhaustion. More than seven in 10 adults (72%) hope to sidestep political discussions during holiday get-togethers, with nearly two in five people (38%) saying theyโll even avoid certain family members to prevent potential conflicts.
The study, conducted by The Harris Poll between Nov. 25 and 27, 2024, surveyed over 2,000 U.S. adults and uncovered a deep sense of emotional fatigue following the presidential election. The results highlight a generational divide in how people approach potentially divisive family interactions.
Younger adults are significantly more likely to dodge family gatherings. While 23% of seniors over 65 plan to avoid relatives, that number jumps to 45% among adults between 18 and 34 and 47% for those 35 to 44. This suggests younger generations are less willing to tolerate political disagreements within their family circles.
The emotional toll of the election is palpable. One-third of adults reported being more stressed about the nationโs future post-election, with another third feeling less stressed. Interestingly, those experiencing increased stress were more likely to want to avoid political discussions (80%) compared to those feeling less stressed (65%).
Despite the tension, thereโs a silver lining. An overwhelming 83% of respondents agreed that the holidays should be a time to set aside political differences.
โWhile conversations around politics and other sensitive topics can be challenging, seeking to understand different perspectives can strengthen and enrich our relationships,โ notes APA CEO Arthur C. Evans Jr. in a media release.
The APA offered practical advice for those navigating potentially explosive family conversations:
- Listen to understand, not to argue
- Find common ground
- Accept that minds might not change
- Focus on shared memories
- Know when to change the subject
For many Americans, the message is clear: family connections matter more than winning political arguments. As one in five adults sees the holidays as a welcome distraction from political stress, the survey suggests a collective desire to prioritize relationships over rhetoric.
In a year marked by division, many are choosing connection over conflict โ one family gathering at a time.
Methodology
This survey was conducted online within the United States by The Harris Poll on behalf of APA from November 25โ27, 2024, among 2,083 U.S. adults ages 18+. Data are weighted where necessary by age, gender, region, race/ethnicity, household income, education, marital status, size of household, and political party affiliation to bring them in line with their actual proportions in the population.
Respondents for this survey were selected from among those who have agreed to participate in our surveys. The sampling precision of Harris online polls is measured by using a Bayesian credible interval. For this study, the full sample data is accurate to within ยฑ2.5 percentage points using a 95% confidence level. This credible interval will be wider among subsets of the surveyed population of interest.
All sample surveys and polls, whether or not they use probability sampling, are subject to other multiple sources of error which are most often not possible to quantify or estimate, including, but not limited to coverage error, error associated with nonresponse, error associated with question wording and response options, and postsurvey weighting and adjustments.
The 2024 Stress in Americaโข survey was conducted online within the United States by The Harris Poll on behalf of APA between August 1โ23, 2024, among 3,305 adults ages 18+ who reside in the U.S. that serves as a nationally representative sample. In addition to the national sample, oversamples were collected to allow for subgroup analysis within race/ethnicity groups. Sample sizes across the national and oversamples are as follows: 801 Black, 855 Hispanic, and 804 Asian. Interviews were conducted in English and Spanish.
