The division in America over President Trump has reached a new stage: People can’t even agree on his name.
According to a unique new survey shared with Secrets, Democrats dislike Trump so much that just mentioning his name turns their mood from happy to sour, calm to anxious.
When asked about life since 2016, 33% of Democrats reported a “negative mood,” said the survey of 2,000 for MedicareAdvantage.com. But when Trump’s name was thrown in, it more than doubled to 68%.
Not so for Republicans. Some 51% of Republicans reported an overall positive mood since 2016. That increased to 57% when Trump’s name was mentioned.
In the online survey, half were asked about their health and outlook “since 2016,” and the other half were asked about their health “since Trump was elected.” Their perceptions changed when Trump’s name was added.
The poll analysis said, “Including the name ‘Trump’ created a notable change in responses, exposing a potential for inherent tribalism and confirmation bias around what we call the ‘Trump trigger effect.’”
Overall, those who reported a worsened overall mood and mental health increased 54% when Trump’s name was mentioned.
But the partisan differences were stark, especially on the upcoming 2020 presidential election.
Asked about election, 45% of Democrats said they are on edge. For Republicans, it’s just 16%.
Trump’s name also appears to impact health. “Election anxiety is very real,” said Dr. Steven Rosenberg, a psychotherapist and behavioral specialist in Philadelphia. “Anxiety can cause a variety of extremes in behavior from overeating, excessive smoking or drinking, sleep disturbances and more.”
Mention Trump’s name to Republicans, and they reported drinking less alcohol and being in better shape.
Mention Trump to Democrats, and 66% reported increased anxiety. For Republicans, it dropped to just 21%.
“Knowing that we have some sense of control in life is critical in our overall well-being, and essential in the management of stress,” said Jodi De Luca, a licensed clinical psychologist in Colorado. “Our control over the current political climate is seemingly limited, and in many ways, this lack of control inhibits our ability to manage politically related stress.”
