A new study released Monday shows Millennials were stressed out after the 2016 presidential election. And, political analysts are concerned the current election cycle could lead to their permanent disenfranchisement.
The study in the Journal of American College Health found among nearly 800 ASU students a quarter came away with "event-related clinical distress," as symptom psychologists argue can trigger post-traumatic stress disorder later in life.
It may be why this week's registration numbers among Millennials in Arizona are low.
Joe Garcia with the Morrison Institute found in their own research 49 percent of Millennials have not registered to vote and predicted that percentage will worsen as experience their first election.
"They don't know in past elections it was different, that is wasn't near as negative, but they're bombarded constantly by mean and nasty campaigning by both sides," Garcia said.
He said stress from juggling higher tuition payments, career decisions, and passing exams limits their tolerance for negativity.
"And, that's going to result in perhaps young people not voting and perhaps young people not voting ever."
Traditionally people who vote at a young age will vote the rest of their lifetimes and those who rarely ever will, he said.
