Trump presidency adds to usual anxiety and stress on college campuses

An overwhelmed student sits outside the caf (Photo illustration by Kerry Anna Lemasters).

Studying for finals, maintaining a social life, staying healthy, doing laundry, actually getting enough sleep — university students have enough to worry about.

But Donald Trump’s presidency is adding to the anxiety and stress already present on campuses nationwide.

No matter where they sit on the political scale, students are stressed, complaining, and in some cases, scared.

“If you are already vulnerable, anxious, or have tremendous stress, (political issues) can push people over the edge,” said Connie Horton, senior director of Counseling, Health and Wellness at Pepperdine University.

A lack of vulnerability, unwillingness to ‘not be OK’ and a need for social acceptance are crippling college students, both at Pepperdine and nationwide, counselors said. Students lean on complaints, from lack of sleep to Trump’s presidency, to mask the true origins of their stress and anxiety.

Real stress on campus

“Across the country, and at Pepperdine, anxiety and stress are the main reasons college students come to counseling,” Sparkle Greenhaw, staff therapist at the Pepperdine Counseling Center, said.

A Pepp Post survey of 50 students found that 60 percent chose a stress level over seven, on a scale of one to 10, in an average week. Slightly more than half have attended counseling in the past. There is a strong correlation between stress levels and attendance at counseling centers.

“We have pretty much close to tripled (in attendance) in the past 10 years,” Horton said.

Horton approximated attendance at 270 students in 2005. This year, the Pepperdine Counseling Center saw close to 800 students.

Students are stressed — that is nothing new. But now, more than ever, students are masking, intentionally or unintentionally, their real struggles with college angst, Relationship IQ Director Hannah Parmelee said. When surveyed about the No. 1 cause of their stress, students overwhelmingly chose topics of academics and workload.

Other possible stressors on the survey included personal relationships, family life, money, not fitting in, religious questions, and other. The only option not chosen, not even once, was political issues. While students did not chose politics as a primary reason for stress, when asked specifically if Trump adds anxiety, 56 percent said yes.

Cause of stress: Trump

Trump won the election with 306 electoral votes, but lost the popular vote, making it a very unexpected victory for many. A roller coaster campaign and dramatic election left the nation divided.

From attacking certain groups of people, such as immigrants, Muslims and women, to passing vexed executive orders and bombing Syria, Trump continues to spur conflict.

Differing opinions and beliefs concerning Trump have torn apart families, friendships and other relationships.

“Within my friend group, I have two friends, one is very pro-Trump and one is very against,” Alyssa Rosas, junior finance and accounting major, said. “There is definitely tension … a lot of tension.”

Those two friends are “no longer speaking anymore” due to the division these issues have caused.

“Therapists nationwide say they’ve been overwhelmed by the strong feelings triggered by one of the most divisive figures in modern political history,” Soumya Karlamangla wrote in the Los Angeles Times.

Seeking real relationships in a time of great division

The inability to have vulnerable conversation about Trump is why counselors such as Horton and Greenhaw hear about it, instead of a friend.

“Having social contacts is very different than having friends — someone that knows me well and I tell the truth to about what is going on,” Horton said.

Greenhaw said she noticed a shift in her counseling sessions around the political season.

“Students don’t come in here for that (political anxiety), but then it might come up in conversation,”  Greenhaw said.

Pepperdine students said they witness Trump-induced anxiety a day-to-day basis. Those who are both for and against Trump are feeling the stress.

While opinions dominate social media, many students at this conservative, Church of Christ Southern California school said they are hesitant to express their political views.

“I find it difficult because the political climate these days has been very turbulent,” junior economics major Jordan Buenafe said. “Sometimes I will get shot down before I can really explain myself, so that’s why I am hesitant … I will just nod my head and try not to argue.”

Cayley Olivier, junior integrated marketing communication major, said his parents voted for Trump and have avoided talking about it in public.

“Just to avoid any kind of awkward conversations,” Olivier said. “Of course they don’t support him, you know as a human, and some of the mean things that he has done and said, but they felt like their beliefs and views aligned more with his when it came down to vote.”

Junior psychology major Balee Schwalb said this was common on campus.

“No one wanted to say who they voted for,” she said. “Even after the result of Trump being our president came out, people still haven’t owned up to voting for him. On campus, it’s especially hard because you will be judged. For instance, if you voted for Trump, you will be judged for being a crazy conservative.”

If students are not willing to engage meaningfully in political dialogue, which may involve disagreement, they certainly are not ready to discuss the more meaningful stressors and pains of college/millennial life. Parmelee agreed that while some level of friendship can be obtained without sharing political views, sharing vulnerable opinions can get to the core of fully understanding another.

“When people feel heard, they feel known,” Parmelee said. “Then, you are able to have more of a real relationship.”

The OK facade in a social media world

The millennial generation has a deep desire for quick fixes and a band-aid approach to emotional fragility. People, especially students, feel the pressure to be OK all the time. Parmelee said students have a certain perception that they are not supposed to struggle with really hard and personal things.

“I think there definitely is a huge pressure for our generation to feel as if they’re OK,” junior psychology major Jake Bigon said.

In this day where social media is a prime means of communication, a student can project a false sense of OK-ness. A perfectly crafted sunset Instagram can mask loneliness and fear about paying the next tuition bill.

“At an emotional level, not only do students have to put on this front, but have to convince themselves that they actually are OK,” Parmelee said.

Social media provides the perfect distraction from relationship issues, body insecurities and post-graduation anxieties, Parmelee said. Complaining and stressing over Trump has become an easy out. By blaming an outside evil, whatever that may be, students can cover up the internal issues “without really having to share ourselves,” Parmelee said.

“I think for millennials, and most people, specifically at Pepperdine, social media is allowing people to put up kind of a facade,” Olivier said. “Of course, they represent the best things about themselves, but oftentimes they don’t share the struggles they are going through, or things that are real. I think sometimes that can be harmful.”

Kerry Anna Lemasters completed this story in Jour 241 in spring 2017. Dr. Christina Littlefield supervised the web version of this story and Dr. Theresa de los Santos supervised the video package.