A Cognitive Model of Depression and Political Attitudes

Bernardi, Luca ORCID: 0000-0001-5875-9990, Sala, Giovanni ORCID: 0000-0002-1589-3759 and Gotlib, Ian H (2023) A Cognitive Model of Depression and Political Attitudes. Electoral Studies, 87. p. 102737. ISSN 0261-3794

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Abstract

Depression is among the most prevalent mental health problems. Previous research indicates that depressive symptoms and cognitive regulation processes are differentially associated with political attitudes. Here we build and test a model based on cognitive aspects of depression that provides an explanation for those differential associations. We test this formulation using a novel survey dataset that includes measures of worry and stress due to the COVID-19 pandemic, cognitive regulation processes, and depression. We posit that rumination mediates the association between depression and self-related political attitudes, whereas negativity bias mediates the association between depression and government-related attitudes. We find considerable support for these claims. Our findings elucidate how depression may influence people's perceptions of politics.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	4408 Political Science, 44 Human Society, Brain Disorders, Depression, Mind and Body, Mental Illness, Behavioral and Social Science, Mental Health, Mental health, 3 Good Health and Well Being
Divisions:	Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences > School of Histories, Languages and Cultures
Depositing User:	Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited:	21 Dec 2023 15:22
Last Modified:	11 Apr 2025 11:50
DOI:	10.1016/j.electstud.2023.102737
Related Websites:	Publisher
URI:	https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3177591