Studies Linking Political Affiliation and Mental Health

Recent research highlights an interesting connection between political beliefs and mental well-being. A 2021 study in SSM-Mental Health reviewed the depressive moods of conservative and liberal 12th graders from 2005 to 2018. The findings suggested that “conservatives reported lower mean scores for depressed feelings, self-doubt, and loneliness and higher self-esteem scores than all other groups.”

A more recent 2023 study by Gallup, commissioned by the Institute for Family Research, found that “youth with very conservative parents are 16 to 17 percentage points more likely to have good or excellent mental health compared to their peers with very liberal parents.”

Another paper, published in PLOS One in 2025, pointed out that “even after considering various factors, conservatives tend to assess their mental health more positively than liberals.” The authors speculated this could be influenced by potential bias or the language used in research.

On the flip side, mental health issues seem to persist among those on the American left. Interestingly, while conservatives maintain relatively good mental health, they appear to become more entwined with political identities tied to these issues.

In a study from Utah State University, Lauren Van de Hey advocated for “replication and further exploration” after her research found that “mental health identity is starting to function as a political identity, particularly for younger, more liberal Americans.” This, perhaps, hints at a deeper trend worth examining.

According to data from the 2022 National Joint Election Survey conducted by YouGov, many individuals now regard their mental health status as a core part of their identity, and most believe issues surrounding mental illness are significant to their self-concept.

Van de Hey noted that “Individuals who have dealt with mental health challenges often feel a connection to others with similar experiences. They are more inclined to self-identify as having a mental illness, share a collective consciousness, and push for changes to unfair laws affecting those with mental health issues.”

This trend has political ramifications, correlating with “support for increased state funding on health, education, and welfare.” The study highlights political figures like Sen. Tina Smith (D-Minn.), who, due to her experience with depression, identifies strongly as part of the community advocating for mental health equity.

According to the study, “Those identified more frequently with mental illness typically have higher education levels, lean Democratic, are more liberal, white, and have slightly lower household incomes.” It’s intriguing but perhaps not surprising that ideology is a potential variable linking mental health identity and feelings of alienation.

As Van de Hey wrapped up her findings, she pointed out, “These results have significant implications for mental health advocacy and how these identities play a role in politics, particularly as Gen Z continues to evolve.”

In a sample of 860 respondents, her study found that 26% had experienced mental illness, while 22% were noted as having a physical disability. Among those who reported mental illness, 70% identified as “liberal” or “very liberal,” with 24% labeling themselves as “moderate,” and only about 32% identified as “conservative” or “very conservative.” What’s more, about half of these respondents indicated that their identity as someone with mental illness was “important” or “very important.”