Depression and Political Participation

Abstract

In this paper, I propose that depression is a political phenomenon insofar as it has political sources and consequences. I then investigate one aspect of this argument-whether depression reduces participation. I hypothesize that individuals with depression lack the motivation and physical capacity to vote and engage in other forms of political participation due to somatic problems and feelings of hopelessness and apathy. Moreover, I examine how depression in adolescence can have downstream consequences for participation in young adulthood. The analyses, using both cross-sectional and longitudinal data, show that voter turnout and other forms of participation decrease as the severity of depressed mood increases. These findings are discussed in light of disability rights and potential efforts to boost participation among this group.

Figure 4

The sensitivity analyses show that the mediating effect of education is robust.

Figure 1

The probability of voting decreases as the severity of depressed mood increases

Figure 2

The probability of political activity decreases as the severity of depressed mood increases

Figure 3

The political cycle of depression