The rapid pace of change under the current presidential administration has been amping up people’s feelings of uncertainty. That collective unease can take a toll on societal well-being, researchers say.
“Given that unfamiliarity permeates our current ether … uncertainty can be considered a widespread public health problem,” Emily Hauenstein argued earlier this year in the Archives of Pediatric Nursing.
A considerable body of research shows that uncertainty challenges people’s ability to think clearly, sift through information and make sound decisions. This can make people susceptible to cognitive traps. Faced with a volatile environment, some go down every rabbit hole in search of the perfect path forward, only to