Political Ideology & Personal Health
If you are consumed by the topics, if you are not able to engage in daily activities, if you feel nervous, sad, angry most of the time, you need to back off - Josh Klapow PhD

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Compassion in Politics
A message for all of us from across the pond...
Compassion has the power to change politics for good. From inequality to homelessness, divisions over Brexit to refugees dying at sea - imagine how these issues would be tackled if compassion was the main motivation of decision-makers.
Yet compassion has been edged out of the political debate, replaced by a politics of fear, anger, and divisions and a narrative which emphasises individual success over collective well-being and happiness.
And yet, when we look at ourselves and our lives it seems pretty obvious that we are so much more than that. We love, care, volunteer, help and support. Our proudest political achievements…
Resources
How Politics And Health Are Intertwined
Political polarization is affecting Americans' health, according to a new study. Researchers find higher levels of premature death in Republican-leaning counties compared to those in Democratic-leaning ones. The higher mortality in GOP counties is across the board – everything from heart disease to suicide.
Is Your Health Related To Your Political Ideology? Let's Talk About It
Twitter isn’t exactly real life, but it sure does represent what’s going on in our society to some extent. There’s a common denominator I’m seeing across the board that makes me curious about the relationship between political beliefs and health.
The Dark Side of Keeping Up With Politics: A Toll on Our Mental Health
According to research published by the American Psychological Association, the daily stress of keeping up with political news can have a detrimental impact on individuals’ mental health and well-being, however, the act of disengaging also comes with consequences.
Compassion in Action: Humanizing Politics and Inspiring Global Change
In an increasingly globalized world, where human suffering is more visible than ever, compassion offers us a compass: a way of being that points us toward promoting cooperation, fostering trust, ameliorating conflict, enabling human flourishing and healing the environment.
Constant Exposure to Politics via Social Media is Bad for Your Mental Health
Unplugging seems to be the obvious answer, but many of us cannot disconnect entirely.
Don’t Give In to ‘Election Stress Disorder’
Voting day won’t bring an end to the strain of this political season, but you don’t have to let things get contentious.
Presidential Elections May Be Bad for Your Health
The exact physiological mechanism is unknown, but previous studies have found similar increases in cardiovascular disease risk after traumatic public events, including earthquakes, industrial accidents and terrorist incidents like the World Trade Center attack of 2001 and the Charlie Hebdo shootings in 2015.
American Politics Are Bad For Your Health
Philosophers at times discuss the difference between a priori and a posteriori propositions, suggesting that a priori propositions are self evident--without need of experience to be considered truth (2 + 2 = 4). In contrast, a posteriori propositions (all the yards in my neighborhood are mowed regularly) require experience to be proven. It is useful to think of a priori considerations as “analytic” processes, and a posteriori as “synthetic” ones.
Fight election season burnout with these mental health tips
Sometimes being a responsible citizen can be exhausting.
How Politics Can Make You Sick
Stress levels are high and some people actually feel ill.
How Your Doctor's Politics Affects Your Health Care -- And What You Can Do About It
In contrast to abortion, marijuana use, and gun ownership, doctors’ political affiliation did not affect their treatment of other issues such as depression, alcohol abuse, or riding a motorcycle without a helmet.
Public Health Is Political
If you fret that experts might lose credibility with conservatives, remember that the medical system lost it long ago with black Americans.
The Election's Over, but Not the Stress. Any Edibles Left
Sales surged as people turned to gummy bears, cookies and chocolates infused with cannabis to soothe their jitters.
Election Stress Disorder Is A Thing — Here’s How To Cope
With the right tools, though, we can protect ourselves from the damaging effects of ESD. It just takes intention and commitment. Ahead, we lay out ten strategies that are designed to help ease your tension.
Reading Too Much Political News Is Bad for Your Well-Being
Obsessing over politics could hurt your happiness and your relationships.
Today’s Politics May Be Bad for Your Health
Citizens in a new study blame U.S. politics for stress, depression, lost sleep and other physical and mental problems.
Why Are Americans So Distrustful of Each Other?
The U.S. is the only established democracy where the level of social trust is falling instead of rising. Our political leaders can help turn the tide.
Friends, relatives, sanity, and health: The costs of politics
The results suggest that a large number of Americans believe their physical health has been harmed by their exposure to politics and even more report that politics has resulted in emotional costs and lost friendships.
Is Ideology Bad For Health? Why Political Partisanship Should Be Asked On Population Health Surveys
Better understanding the mechanisms through which partisanship/ideology affects health behaviors and outcomes enables public health practitioners to develop policies and targeted public health messages to appeal to particular political persuasions and ideological objections.
It’s not just you – politics is stressing out America’s youth
We learned that the majority of youth were experiencing, and continue to experience, physical or emotional distress in the current political climate.
Maintaining a Healthy Balance of Fair and Balanced
Not all opinions are created equal. So why do news media so often go out of their way to place those hocking scientifically unsupported fringe beliefs on the same footing as those espousing the near unanimity of the scientific community?
Money Is the Root of All Political Inequity (and You Should Stop Paying Into It)
While the U.S. is a democracy in some respects, when it comes to policy, a recent study shows that politicos do the bidding of the rich and pretty much ignore the rest of us. He who pays the piper calls the tune, right? But why are we playing along?
No Matter What Party Is in Power, Politics Can Harm Mental Health
It's generally believed that staying politically informed and active is good for both individuals and society. But a survey conducted in both 2017 and 2020 that measured the mental, physical and social impact of politics on American adults suggests otherwise.
Politics and health
The amount of scientific literature on social inequalities in health has increased exponentially in recent years. However, the effect of politics and policies on health and on social inequalities in health has rarely been studied.
Politics is personal
Research by political psychologists helps to explain why we vote the way we do—and is informing ways to improve democratic elections.
Public Health is Always Political
The U.S. public health response system (however strong or weak) has gradually been steered into its current position by elected officials, yet our health system is not set up to succeed in preventing threats to a population’s health.
This is why you get worked up about politics, according to science
When your political views are challenged, the brain becomes active in regions associated with personal identity, threat response and emotions, according to the study.
This is why you get worked up about politics, according to science
A new study holds clues as to why we get so passionate about politics. When your political views are challenged, the brain becomes active in regions associated with personal identity, threat response and emotions, according to the study.
Compassion in Politics
Through a new kind of politics and with a new set of values at the heart of decision-making we can create a nation that cares for one another, improves everyone’s lives, and protects our natural world.
7 psychological concepts that explain the Trump era of politics
American politics can seem baffling. Psychology is here to help.
Compassion in Politics
A cross-party organisation working to put compassion, inclusion, and cooperation at the heart of politics.

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