WASHINGTON, DC Oct. 24 (DPI) – The Washington Post reported on – and thus gave some credibility to – a research report by academics in Arizona and California that a quarter of all college students are suffering Post Traumatic Stress Disorder from the 2016 election.

The Post reported that a team of researchers from Arizona State University and an analyst from San Francisco State University published a paper with survey results suggesting college students have been psychologically traumatized by the election of Donald Trump, comparing it with the trauma of combat and episodes of extreme violence.

The results were published Monday in an article, “Event-related clinical distress in college students: Responses to the 2016 U.S. Presidential election,” in the Journal of American College Health, a bimonthly, peer-reviewed public health journal. The article finds that 25 percent of students had “clinically significant event-related distress,” which it argues can predict future distress as well as diagnoses of PTSD, commonly associated with veterans and defined by the Mayo Clinic as “a mental health condition that’s triggered by a terrifying event — either experiencing it or witnessing it.”

Readers, though, were largely dismissive of the report, and they were also disturbed that the diagnosis of PTSD would be bandied about so freely. What’s more, some were disturbed that young people would even choose to believe they are so helpless – particularly when they owned the right to vote. Said one: “Now PTSD in kids because they are traumatized by an election.  If they ever have to defend the US they will fold like a newspaper in the bathroom stall.”

Another captured a broadly held view: “To compare being upset about an election result to being a victim of rape, being a Holocaust survivor or being a veteran of war is absurd.”

Among the most popular reader comments linked to the story:

The “trauma” inflicted by the 2016 election, while incredibly distressing, would not meet Criterion A for a diagnosis of PTSD (must have suffered or witnessed a trauma that was life threatening). And so while these researchers (or article writer) might prefer to compare the subsequent emotional fallout to “PTSD,” (and while the term PTSD is getting thrown around for everything under the sun these days) they undermine the argument and their intention by using a term that carries such a specific meaning.
As for whether or not people are too sensitive these days, why don’t you ask the NY Times, who can’t seem to get enough ink writing articles about poor misunderstood economically anxious trump voters.

I’m 82 years old and I have been traumatized by the tax cut for the rich, the lies and deceit of our chief executive, the lack of Congress to move forward as statesmen to solve the issues facing us and the disdain and mockery which foreign leaders feel and show the United States.  I was born on a farm in rural America where neighbors helped neighbors and although we were technically poor we had a real life of ambition, love for one another and PRIDE in our country.  I have not heard the Pledge of Allegiance spoken by an adult in this century, maybe longer.  Now PTSD in kids because they are traumatized by an election.  If they ever have to defend the US they will fold like a newspaper in the bathroom stall.

On behalf of everyone who just read this article: what I just read sounds completely ridiculous.  I don’t believe it.  And I’d like someone to clarify who exactly – the WaPo writer or the researchers – grossly misrepresented this research.

If you are scared and distressed, vote.  That is how we regain control of the country.

How infuriating to see how PTSD over recent years has become a diagnosis du jour.  As a Vietnam War veteran, I find this to be particularly galling.  To compare being upset about an election result to being a victim of rape, a Holocaust survivor or a veteran of war is absurd.

This report – both the “research” and the subsequent article here – is easy even for moderates to ridicule. And it is so pathetic – a determined show of victimization – that it comes close to self parody.  The academics who came up with this knew full well it would not be taken seriously, and that it would be fodder for the right-wingers.  Hey lefties, do you really want the independent vote?

I don’t even know why articles like this one are written. Just line after line of non sequiturs.  Are college students “snowflakes” — triggered, traumatized and all together too delicate for the real world? Or are they apathetic — so unconcerned that they can’t be bothered to purchase stamps to send in their absentee ballots?

They can’t be both? It would be wrong, she said, “to turn to that person and say, ‘toughen up.’”

Would it? In the 50 and 60s college students braved fire hoses, dogs and being murdered by the police and klan to win civil rights. In the 70s they protested against the war while being infiltrated, discredited and suppressed by the government as their friends and family members were being brutally killed and maimed in a worthless war. Now they can’t survive an election? 25 percent of students had “clinically significant event-related distress,” which can be predictive of future distress as well as of PTSD diagnoses.

In other news, 25 percent of students admitted to speeding, which can be predictive of future speeding, as well as multi-fatality chain reaction car accidents. There is some reason to believe that young people could outperform expectations, though

Ah, the happy ending … oh, wait, it’s based on an online poll … lol.