MILWAUKEE — A recent online survey by the American Psychological Association (APA) found that about one third (32%) of adults said the political climate has caused a strain between themselves and family members.

Thirty percent have limited their time spent with family who don’t share the same values.

The “Stress in America” online survey was done in August 2024. It polled 3,000 adults of different political affiliations.

Milwaukee family therapist and psychologist Ben Bleck-Owens said there are a number of things people can do to maintain positive, healthy relationships in this divisive time.

“I think a lot of people want to have a sense of community and have a sense of belonging,” said Bleck-Owens, who’s part of the team at Inner Visions Family Counseling. “I know there’s a lot of emotional sensitivity, and a lot of emotional charge associated with the political landscape.”

He said it’s important to take a personal inventory of your beliefs, and how you participate in conversations with others who may have differing views.

“By that, I mean try to consider our strengths and our deficits, or things that we can work on within the communication process in general,” he said. “Take into consideration things that you can control, right? Like we can’t control other people, places and things. What we can control is ourselves, our reaction, our responsiveness and what we do with whatever emotion that we’re feeling at that time.”

He also said that it’s important that friends and family establish boundaries before discussing politics. Boundaries can help promote healthy and meaningful conversations.