How does the national political climate impact youth mental health?

BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) - A team of researchers at the University of Vermont is trying to understand whether kids feel the stress of a polarizing election year, and what to do about it. From ages 6 to 26, UVM child psychiatrist Steven Schlozman says patients of all ages are bringing up politics. "They're really just tired of this heightened temperature of arguing that's happening," said Schlozman. Schlozman says political awareness often starts at home, with passionate sentiments from parents about what or who is right or wrong. "They do notice that certain people who you used to be associated with, especially family members, are no longer welcome. You can't even be with them. You can't even talk to them, and they hear their parents say not nice things about them," he said.

The impact of these types of conversations and political sectarianism - or prejudice between groups - has been widely linked to increased stress, anxiety, and depression among adults.

However, data on the effect on kids is scarce.

That's why Schlozman along with Political Science professor Ellen Andersen and other UVM staff are taking a closer look. "What we don't have is information about what, if anything, this is doing to the kids," said Andersen.

In the coming months, the group plans to compare national data on youth mental health to areas with deep political division in search of a potential connection. "What happens if we superimpose politics on top of that, in the form of like laws and policies, in the form of media coverage of these, these difficult moments, will we see a difference? And our suspicion is that we will," said Anderson. If they find a correlation, Andersen says the next step is launching a deeper study into causation - whether political discrimination actually worsens youth mental health. "We hope we're wrong. I would like to think that our politics today isn't harming youth, but we worry that it is, and so what we're doing right now is a proof of concept idea," said Andersen. While the team gets to work, Schlozman says there are better ways to navigate politics with your kids. When it comes to dinner table conversations, he says to avoid language that completely ostracizes people who think differently than you. "The kids are watching; they can see that, and it's not good for them to see how much you're willing to just completely block out the other person," said Schlozman.

Although experts advocate for finding ways to discuss politics respectfully, they also recognize that an election carries a lot of weight for people of all ages.

You can find resources for mental health during an election year here .