Liberals = Lower Levels of reported happiness and higher rates of Mental Health Struggles. Why?

[Seymour Flops]

As a so called liberal - I guess - I disagree with these sort of assumptions as they are often biased towards the result. Who is the liberal, who the conservative? In life I am the conservative as I served the nation, married longer than most of you have existed, raised two boys who are doing quite well with grandchildren in college and HS. Labels are just labels, they have no real significance - in life it is your values and accomplishments that matter.

That is interesting that you consider yourself a liberal. Yet you label the successes that you mentioned as traits of conservatism.

Is Trump, a convicted felon, a conservative in your world view? Are felons conservatives? Words and labels come to mean nothing if looked at closely. But back on topic, people with mental illnesses are to be helped and treated if necessary. Grow up and think not label.....

Trump is a populist not a conservative.

Yes, of of course. People with mental illness, should be helped and treated. nothing I said would contradict that.

But we also need to take a hard look at the root causes of the specific mental illness of depression.

As a rare liberal who has demonstrated actual altruism. I'm sure you would support finding out if your ideology is a part of the problem.

 

[Seymour Flops]

Di

Self reporting in a survey isnt a diagnosis. Your OP was a survey. A medical study of people actually diagnosed with depression found no difference in party affiliations. No matter how you try to spin it, that the truth. Maybe you are depressed about it? I self report you as suffering from Depression.

Diagnosis of depression is based on what the patient self-reports to the doctor.

Or did the study you linked describe another method?

 

[Dorian Mode]

Mindset.

Generally speaking, Republicans, AKA "conservatives", look to conserve the good. So we approach life from a "what is good here?" Mindset.

Liberals are grievance monitors and vendors. "What is broken"? And so the mindset is constantly looking for the broken.

Mindset and what you consume are really important to mental health. In short, we need to tend to our souls as well as our minds and bodies.

There's a real easy test to see if leftists are at least as happy as those on the right. Ask yourself when was the last time I saw a happy leftist? Then ask yourself when was the last time I saw a happy non-leftist? Most non-leftists are relatively happy and going about living a rewarding life. The only leftists I know are those miserable Karens walking around the neighborhood trying to make everyone at least as miserable as they are. They attentively look for reasons to be triggered and go into a rage.

 

[citygator]

Di

Diagnosis of depression is based on what the patient self-reports to the doctor.

Or did the study you linked describe another method?

No one can "self report" depression through a survey. Jesus man. Give it up. You got snowed on the "survey" because you didnt know scientific studies disproves your premise. Its not a big deal. Most of you righties dont research before posting. It happens.

 

[Hafar1014]

No one can "self report" depression through a survey. Jesus man. Give it up. You got snowed on the "survey" because you didnt know scientific studies disproves your premise. Its not a big deal. Most of you righties dont research before posting. It happens.

Self report is only part of a diagnosis. But its easy to diagnose the question is how severe is it

 

[Hafar1014]

Di

Diagnosis of depression is based on what the patient self-reports to the doctor.

Or did the study you linked describe another method?

Thats part of a diagnosis. Statements by family, affect, behavior, all play a role. There are scales we can use as well but its an easy diagnosis. The fact that one is asking fir help is a key.

 

[odanny]

This isn't terribly complicated. Perhaps because liberals are more likely to be aware and intelligent enough to recognize an issue and work to report it and treat it. Notice "reported" in the thread title.

Given what I have seen from "conservatives" over the last ten years, it's a shame they lack that capacity. Their untreated personal issues have turned them into ugly, spiteful, miserable creatures who don't realize they probably need treatment. So, to no surprise, they desperately turn to blatantly false idols who use them, but also make them "feel" strong, smart and more in control of their lives.

Submission to a hardcore partisan politcal ideology doesn't seem to be good for people on either end of the spectrum.

Once again, Mac, you nailed it.

 

[22lcidw]

Trump supporters do remain blissfully unaware. I've known people like this for years, always happy, had not a clue what was happening in the world, to say nothing of their own country. Could probably not have named the Vice President at the time.

Now you take that same person and make him a Trump supporter, he will be angry about all kinds of stupid shit, but blissfully unaware of anything that might make him feel depressed, or distraught, over what is happening in the world.

They know nothing about the rest of the world and think Trump is best President in history. It's that simple to them.

Romney destroyed Obama during the first debate. Then somehow became Joe Biden like during the second debate. Michelle even went up to her husband after that first debate and asked "What Happened?". We are jaded and cynical.

 

[Seymour Flops]

No one can "self report" depression through a survey. Jesus man. Give it up. You got snowed on the "survey" because you didnt know scientific studies disproves your premise. Its not a big deal. Most of you righties dont research before posting. It happens.

Of course you can self-report depression on a survey, just as you can self-report political affiliation or ideological leanings. That is how such information is gathered.

Did the study you linked somehow test for those traits.

How?

Did you bother to read past the headline?

When are you going to explain how a doctor diagnoses depression without the patient reporting that they are depressed or sad, or in a funk or however they word the self-report?

 

[Hafar1014]

Of course you can self-report depression on a survey, just as you can self-report political affiliation or ideological leanings. That is how such information is gathered.

Did the study you linked somehow test for those traits.

How?

Did you bother to read past the headline?

When are you going to explain how a doctor diagnoses depression without the patient reporting that they are depressed or sad, or in a funk or however they word the self-report?

We use many factors. We question the patient self report is important but we also look at behavior affect, reports form family. Depression is not difficult to diagnose. We do have to make differential from anxiety and we often see them at the same time.

 

[Seymour Flops]

We use many factors. We question the patient self report is important but we also look at behavior affect, reports form family. Depression is not difficult to diagnose. We do have to make differential from anxiety and we often see them at the same time.

So there is no blood draw, or genetic test or MRI ir any other of the tools used to diagnose other illnesses?

 

[StrongAF_2026]

They arent more depressed. A Johns Hopkins-linked 2024 analysis found that screening positive for depression did not differ significantly between Republicans and Democrats in 2023.

On your study it is STILL 25% of dems tested positive for Depression vs 20% for Republicans. So they ARE more depressed. But generally, Republicans who believe in God don't see a therapist (who we all know are often WAY more F'ed up than their patients") to fix their problems, they turn to scripture.
Furthermore...

The Traditional Finding - Much research indicates that religious people as a group tend to have better mental health than the ones with no faith, with lower rates of depression, anxiety, suicide, self-harm, and substance use.
This has been attributed to social support in congregations, a sense of purpose and meaning, and moral codes guiding behavior.

So my original point still stands....when you believe in nothing, you are lost in this world.

 

[citygator]

On your study it is STILL 25% of dems tested positive for Depression vs 20% for Republicans. So they ARE more depressed. But generally, Republicans who believe in God don't see a therapist (who we all know are often WAY more F'ed up than their patients") to fix their problems, they turn to scripture.

You have to read the whole study. What did differ was treatment behavior: Republicans with depressive symptoms were more likely to have unmet mental health care needs, suggesting conservatives may be less likely to seek treatment even when distressed. Ultimately the percent is the same with the likelihood to seek treatment as a differentiator. Maybe they were just using prayer and any pastor will tell you that seeking medical and psychological support is God's hand.

Furthermore...

The Traditional Finding - Much research indicates that religious people as a group tend to have better mental health than the ones with no faith, with lower rates of depression, anxiety, suicide, self-harm, and substance use.
This has been attributed to social support in congregations, a sense of purpose and meaning, and moral codes guiding behavior.

So my original point still stands....when you believe in nothing, you are lost in this world.

Look. I never run down the idea of religion just the execution of it. Even in your post you think somehow the point of religion is to pretend to be better than other groups. Christians are called to be "on Mission" all the time. What is the mission? Loving your neighbor, caring for the needy, and living a life of compassion. Not the spirit of your note above.

 

[OhPleaseJustQuit]

If people are happy and fulfilled, they want that to continue. The "conserve" in conservatism refers to the continuation of social order that allows for such.

Conversely, if a person is unhappy and unfulfilled, they are drawn to the rhetoric that tells them they are a victim of the system, which is broken and needs fixing.

.

Quite well said! Thank you!

.

 

[d0gbreath]

I linked a study that you did not like.

I guess this will be my first teachable moment of the day:

All depression is self reported. Did you think that there was some kind of blood test for it?

Due to HIPPA laws. So your study don't mean jack.

 

[d0gbreath]

 

[candycorn]

View attachment 1250533

Here are the links:

Why Depression Rates Are Higher Among Liberals

Columbia researchers look at the politics of despair.

magazine.columbia.edu

https://publichealth.jhu.edu/2024/new-study-shows-bipartisan-struggles-with-depression-reveals-gaps-in-mental-health-care-access

Now, I don't consider myself liberal or conservative. I'm a libertarian when I'm in a wishful thinking type mood, and a Trump-supporting American firster when I face the real world. But I have gone through phases of being liberal and being conservative. I was once exactly the type pessimist that typifies the liberals I know.

I did take notice of Republicans not getting mental health needs met. This is likely due to the fact that mental health treatement costs money and leaves a record which might be discovered by an employer. This may cause Reps to hesitate or decide not to seek treatment and then say on an anonymous poll that they have unmet needs.

Liberals are not likely to be concerned about those factors, being less interested in employment and most often having some sort of government provided healthcare that fully pays for their shrinks and meds.

Other than that, I think the reason for the disparity in mental illness frequency is pretty obvious.

Uh huh...

Nobody seems more upset than conservatives on this message board. Seldom does an hour go by without a thread being started either stating some esoteric outrage--for which there is almost no basis, calling for someone to be investigated, jailed, or expelled from the nation.

 

[Seymour Flops]

You have to read the whole study. What did differ was treatment behavior: Republicans with depressive symptoms were more likely to have unmet mental health care needs, suggesting conservatives may be less likely to seek treatment even when distressed.

It us true that a conservative, a slide for republican, when they find themselves down in the dumps, or in a rut, or whatever it is likely to say, "I need to get a hobby/get out more/meet a girl/work overtime to make more money/go on a diet, etc."

A liberal/democrat/not democrat is much more likely to respond to unexplained sadness by posting angrily on message boards or using obamacare/medicaid to go to a therapist that specializes in loneliness/fat acceptance/low self-esteem, etc.

 

[struth]

View attachment 1250533

Here are the links:

Why Depression Rates Are Higher Among Liberals

Columbia researchers look at the politics of despair.

magazine.columbia.edu

https://publichealth.jhu.edu/2024/new-study-shows-bipartisan-struggles-with-depression-reveals-gaps-in-mental-health-care-access

Now, I don't consider myself liberal or conservative. I'm a libertarian when I'm in a wishful thinking type mood, and a Trump-supporting American firster when I face the real world. But I have gone through phases of being liberal and being conservative. I was once exactly the type pessimist that typifies the liberals I know.

I did take notice of Republicans not getting mental health needs met. This is likely due to the fact that mental health treatement costs money and leaves a record which might be discovered by an employer. This may cause Reps to hesitate or decide not to seek treatment and then say on an anonymous poll that they have unmet needs.

Liberals are not likely to be concerned about those factors, being less interested in employment and most often having some sort of government provided healthcare that fully pays for their shrinks and meds.

Other than that, I think the reason for the disparity in mental illness frequency is pretty obvious.

Yes, as Columbia researchers found, libs have the mindset of teens

 

[struth]

This isn't terribly complicated. Perhaps because liberals are more likely to be aware and intelligent enough to recognize an issue and work to report it and treat it. Notice "reported" in the thread title.

Given what I have seen from "conservatives" over the last ten years, it's a shame they lack that capacity. Their untreated personal issues have turned them into ugly, spiteful, miserable creatures who don't realize they probably need treatment. So, to no surprise, they desperately turn to blatantly false idols who use them, but also make them "feel" strong, smart and more in control of their lives.

Submission to a hardcore partisan politcal ideology doesn't seem to be good for people on either end of the spectrum.

That's not what Columbia found in their research, they found libs have the mindset of teens. So very much the opposite.