I am in the Netherlands:The Good and the Bad

[odanny]

Yes, once in a while, these studies or surveys turn up to show that people in liberal countries are the happiest.

Could be.

But here in the United States, people on that side of the political spectrum have by far the most diagnoses of depression and take the most SSRI's.

There is no real evidence that confirms this, if the correlation is the number of medications prescribed + political beliefs, many liberals have more money and better health care, which means increased access and availability.

The same number, or more, of Trump supporters who suffer from undiagnosed mental illness is just as likely.

 

[Seymour Flops]

There is no real evidence that confirms this, if the correlation is the number of medications prescribed + political beliefs, many liberals have more money and better health care, which means increased access and availability.

The same number, or more, of Trump supporters who suffer from undiagnosed mental illness is just as likely.

It is very real.

Here is an article that explains the problem from a liberal point of view:

Why Depression Rates Are Higher Among Liberals

Columbia researchers look at the politics of despair.

magazine.columbia.edu

This has been well known for a while. the real question is, does liberalism cause mental illness, or does mental illness cause liberalism?

According to this article, it is the former, but it is still the fault of . . . of course . . . Donald Trump mainly.

 

[odanny]

Nah, that study does not account that Trump supporters all suffer from some form of mental illness, but they likely just attribute it to stupidity. There has not been nearly enough research done.

 

[Seymour Flops]

Nah, that study does not account that Trump supporters all suffer from some form of mental illness, but they likely just attribute it to stupidity. There has not been nearly enough research done.

The science disagrees:

Are liberals truly more depressed than conservatives?

How does a person's politics influence their mental health? Research points to connections, prompting theories to explain differences.

news.northeastern.edu

In one study, a team of epidemiologists surveyed more than 86,000 twelfth-graders over a 13-year period and found rates of depression have been rising among all students, but much higher with progressive students.

One theory to explain the reported differences offered by the social psychologist Jonathan Haidt suggests that social media and a culture of “victimization” may be to blame, particularly among these younger demographics. Another theory focuses on a “catastrophizing” mentality attributed to a more liberal worldview. The chatter surrounding a potential link between ideology and happiness comes after the U.S. surgeon general recently warned against the harms of social media usage on teens’ mental health, stating that certain platforms pose “a profound risk of harm to the mental health and well-being of children and adolescents.”

 

[odanny]

The science disagrees:

Are liberals truly more depressed than conservatives?

How does a person's politics influence their mental health? Research points to connections, prompting theories to explain differences.

news.northeastern.edu

In one study, a team of epidemiologists surveyed more than 86,000 twelfth-graders over a 13-year period and found rates of depression have been rising among all students, but much higher with progressive students.

One theory to explain the reported differences offered by the social psychologist Jonathan Haidt suggests that social media and a culture of “victimization” may be to blame, particularly among these younger demographics. Another theory focuses on a “catastrophizing” mentality attributed to a more liberal worldview. The chatter surrounding a potential link between ideology and happiness comes after the U.S. surgeon general recently warned against the harms of social media usage on teens’ mental health, stating that certain platforms pose “a profound risk of harm to the mental health and well-being of children and adolescents.”

The study is attributing mental illness in Trump supporters to overall stupidity and arrested intellectual development, and I posit that it is more likely to be undiagnosed mental illness.

 

[Seymour Flops]

The study is attributing mental illness in Trump supporters to overall stupidity and arrested intellectual development, and I posit that it is more likely to be undiagnosed mental illness.

Which study did that?

 

[odanny]

Which study did that?

This one, the same as other conclusions reached in previous studies. I believe they all make assumptions on these findings that the arrested intellectual development of Trump supporters is a result of a genetic deficiency, or environmental factors, and fail to include mental illness as the primary cause.

That's why these studies remain inaccurate to me, based on my observations of Trump supporters.

 

[Seymour Flops]

This one, the same as other conclusions reached in previous studies. I believe they all make assumptions on these findings that the arrested intellectual development of Trump supporters is a result of a genetic deficiency, or environmental factors, and fail to include mental illness as the primary cause.

That's why these studies remain inaccurate to me, based on my observations of Trump supporters.

So you make an assumption about the scientific studies' assumption?

Itbwould be more honest if you just said "but, I hate science!"

 

[odanny]

So you make an assumption about the scientific studies' assumption?

Itbwould be more honest if you just said "but, I hate science!"

I love science, but these studies are not always representative of the group being studied, the sample size is small and the factors I listed are not always going to be considered, or given the consideration they deserve.

 

[Seymour Flops]

I love science, but these studies are not always representative of the group being studied, the sample size is small and the factors I listed are not always going to be considered, or given the consideration they deserve.

86,000 12th graders is a small sample size?

 

[odanny]

86,000 12th graders is a small sample size?

For a study like this it is a good sample size, I question whether or not assumptions may have been made.

 

[Seymour Flops]

For a study like this it is a good sample size, I question whether or not assumptions may have been made.

I would disagree that they should have assumed that all Trump supporters have a mental illness.

It would be fair to assume that Trumpers are less likely to access mental health services.

Trumpers tend not to see themselves as victims needing help. So if they experience clinical depression, they are more likely to first try eating better, exercising, taking initiative with work, hobbies or social life. That'd be my go to before asking a doctor for pills.

 

[odanny]

Trumpers tend not to see themselves as victims needing help. So if they experience clinical depression, they are more likely to first try eating better, exercising, taking initiative with work, hobbies or social life. That'd be my go to before asking a doctor for pills.

Uh huh.