Being a high-stakes, high-drama event, Election Day typically fosters a relatively high level of stress and worry in the population. The percentage of U.S. adults in a bad mood increased on the day of the election in 2008 and 2012 — as well as 2016 — compared to the average for the seven days prior.

However, the jump in bad mood on Election Day in 2016 is larger than the increase seen in the previous two elections. Americans’ bad mood on Election Day 2016 was nine percentage points higher than the average of the seven previous days. Election Day 2012 and 2008 had a six-point and three-point difference, respectively, compared with the average of the seven previous days.

In all three election years, Americans’ bad mood generally held steady the day after the election.