"Depression's Influence on Political Views: New Study Reveals Insights"
Originally Published 1 year ago — by PsyPost
A new study from the University of Liverpool and Stanford University explores the intricate relationship between depression and political attitudes, revealing that pandemic-related stress can trigger depressive symptoms, which in turn shape political perceptions through specific cognitive processes. The study found that individuals with higher levels of depressive symptoms were more likely to engage in negative repetitive thinking and exhibit a bias towards negative news, which negatively impacted their internal political efficacy, trust in government, and satisfaction with political institutions. While cautioning against drawing firm causal conclusions, the researchers suggest that future research could delve deeper into these relationships to better understand the impact of depression on political attitudes.