Age, Gender, and Education: Understanding the Comorbidities of Political Stress

Chapter 4 examines how demographic differences shape Americans’ experiences of political stress, identifying age, gender, and education as key “comorbidities.” Drawing on survey data from 6,000 respondents, the authors find that political stress is disproportionately concentrated among younger adults (especially Gen Z and Millennials), while older generations report markedly lower levels. The analysis reveals that young women experience the highest stress levels of any group, aligning with broader research on gendered anxiety in the digital age. Contrary to expectations, education exacerbates rather than buffers political stress: college-educated adults report significantly higher stress levels, likely reflecting greater political engagement and media exposure. Collectively, the findings suggest that political stress is not evenly distributed across the population but rather amplified among digitally immersed, socially attuned, and politically aware cohorts. The chapter concludes that understanding these demographic vulnerabilities is essential for addressing political stress as an emerging public health concern.