polarization's effects on health
NPR discussion about Health and Polarization
NPR Correspondents analyze a new study that highlights voting patterns in a county can predict life expectancy. They also discuss the issue with the author of the study highlighting the connection between political leaning and death rates.
​
Disproportionate effects on older populations
Older populations, typically considered vulnerable already, are at an increased risk for negative health outcomes due to partisanship. High levels of partisanship can alienate family and friends which would become critically important during old age. During this time individuals experience increasing levels of physical distress, and when highly polarized, may have less access to support. (Fraser et al., 2022)
​
Older adults are already more likely to experience social isolation due to retirement, decreased mobility, and and cognitive decline, which can all impact their ability to participate in positive civic engagement. Therefore, they are an important population to focus on when we cosnider the negative effects of polarization.
​
Highly polarized groups suffer adverse outcomes
Many Americans view politics as something detrimental to their physical, psychological, and social health, which also threatens democracy itself (Smith, 2022). That effect is strongest, however, among young left-learning Democrats. Researchers note that this group is highly interested and engaged, and determined that this was likely a strong moderating factor of negative health impacts. This seems to suggest that high polarization can have especially negative health outcomes.
​
Given that younger people are poised to take over as the majority in the electorate, it is crucial that we are able to foster political cooperation and dissuade affective polarization, which could damage or even destroy democracy.
