Politics and stress
This election is stressing workers, finds new APA survey
The presidential campaign is taking a toll on American workers, some of whom report feeling stressed, argumentative and less productive because of political discussions on the job, according to a survey released by APA's Center for Organizational Excellence.
More than one in four younger employees (ages 18–34) reported feeling stressed by political discussions at work, and more than twice as many men as women said political talk is making them less productive, according to the "Politics in the Workplace: 2016 Election Season" survey, conducted online on APA's behalf by Harris Poll from Aug. 10–12, among 927 U.S. workers.
Men were more likely than women, and younger workers were more likely than older generations, to have experienced negative consequences of political discussions at work this election season, the survey found. This includes having difficulty getting work done, producing lower-quality work and being less productive overall.
Similarly, these groups were more likely to say that because of political discussions at work, they feel more isolated from their colleagues, have a more negative view of them and have experienced an increase in workplace hostility.
Among all workers surveyed, nearly half (47 percent) said people are more likely to discuss politics in the workplace this election season than in the past. Although a majority of working Americans (60 percent) indicated that people at work are generally respectful toward others with differing political views, more than a quarter (26 percent) have witnessed or overheard their co-workers arguing about politics, and about 1 in 10 (11 percent) have gotten into an argument themselves.
"The workplace brings people together from different backgrounds who might not ordinarily interact with each other. When you add politics to the mix—a deeply personal and emotional topic for many—there is potential for tension, conflict and problems for both employees and the organization," said David W. Ballard, PsyD, MBA, director of APA's Center for Organizational Excellence.
Other key findings from the survey:
- More than half (54 percent) of American workers said they avoid discussing politics with colleagues, and one in five (20 percent) reported avoiding some co-workers because of their political views.
- As a result of political discussions at work, at least one in 10 working Americans said they have felt tense or stressed (17 percent), have been more cynical and negative at work (15 percent), have had more difficulty getting work done (10 percent), have been less productive at work (13 percent) and have seen their work quality suffer (10 percent).
- Compared with women, more than twice as many men reported that they have had more difficulty getting work done (13 percent vs. 6 percent), that their work quality had suffered (14 percent vs. 5 percent) and that they had been less productive at work (18 percent vs. 7 percent) as a result of political discussions at work this election season.
- For younger workers (ages 18–34), 28 percent said political discussions at work have made them feel stressed, 23 percent reported feeling more isolated from their co-workers, and 25 percent said workplace hostility has increased. Almost one in five younger workers (18 percent) reported having an argument with a co-worker about politics.
- More than one in four younger employees (ages 18–34) said they have a more negative view of co-workers as a result of political discussions at work (26 percent), and that they avoid some co-workers because of their political views (28 percent).
Get the app
A new tool to help clients quit smoking
Most smokers want to quit and now it is easier than ever for psychologists to help. Providers can download APA's new free mobile app APA Smoke Screen, which offers tobacco use screening tools, links to telephone quit-lines, lists of evidence-based smoking-cessation interventions and other resources.
The app is available through Google Play and iTunes.
Smoke Screen offers targeted information for 14 populations that are more likely to smoke, or suffer more consequences from smoking, including people living with HIV/AIDS, American Indians, African-Americans and people with serious mental illness. The app lists information on smoking prevalence, risk factors and health consequences for these health-priority populations, which also include the LGBT population and older adults.
APA Smoke Screen also directs clinicians to consider how their clients may have overlapping risk factors for smoking and offers ways to track how well they are preventing and treating tobacco use among their clients.
APA developed the app with a grant from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality to raise awareness among psychologists on the risks of smoking among their clients and to provide a quick and easy way to get the resources they need to help.
"For some of the populations that [psychologists] serve, it is the leading preventable cause of morbidity and mortality, so we are trying to push the urgency of attending to smoking," says Lula Beatty, PhD, senior director of APA's Health Disparities Program.
New from APA Books
Advice for those whose loved ones have ADHD
Psychologists who are working with clients whose loved ones have attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) now have a new resource: "When an Adult You Love Has ADHD: Professional Advice for Parents, Partners, and Siblings" by Russell Barkley, PhD, an internationally recognized expert on ADHD and ADD.
The book discusses the diagnosis of ADHD and how clients can help determine if a spouse, partner, friend, adult child or sibling may have it. Topics include:
- What health risks does ADHD impose on those who have it?
- Why am I feeling resentful toward my loved one with ADHD?
- What can I personally do to help my loved one at home, at work and in other areas of life?
- How can I avoid wasting time and money on sham treatments?
- What if my loved one doesn't want help?
To learn more about the book, go to www.apa.org and search for "When an adult you love has ADHD."
Early career psychologists
Transitioning from student to teacher
You've gotten your first academic job. How do you succeed from here? Guidance for and from early career psychologists is now available in a free book from APA's Div. 2 (Society for the Teaching of Psychology). "So You Landed a Job—What's Next? Advice for Early Career Psychologists from Early Career Psychologists" offers key insights into how to:
- Prepare for the first year as an assistant professor.
- Engage students in research at liberal arts schools.
- Understand your institution's politics.
- Navigate the tenure process.
- Set up a lab.
- Network within the field.
The book is edited by Jared Keeley, PhD, Stephanie E. Afful, PhD, Jennifer J. Stiegler-Balfour, PhD, Jessica J. Good, PhD and Sadie Leder, PhD.
To download the book, go to the APA Div. 2 website, www.teachpsych.orgopens in new window, and search for "So you landed a job."
–Compiled by Monitor staff