politics
Definition
Politics refers to the systems of government actions, policies, and institutional arrangements that distribute resources, rights, protections, and opportunities, thereby directly influencing individuals' psychological well-being and life satisfaction. Political engagement, partisan affiliation, and individuals' support for or opposition to specific governmental actions shape subjective well-being. During periods of democratic backsliding—characterized by weakened institutional checks, executive overreach, and erosion of individual rights—alignment with government actions is associated with higher well-being, whereas opposition to such actions carries psychological costs. The impact of politics on well-being is particularly pronounced when government actions raise concerns about democratic decline, creating asymmetric consequences across partisan groups.
Sources: Wu et al. (2026)
Related Terms
Applications
Politics and Subjective Well-being
Political affiliation and support for government actions directly correlate with subjective well-being outcomes, including life satisfaction and happiness. Greater support for administration actions is associated with higher well-being, whereas greater support for oppositional actions is correlated with lower well-being.
Sources: Wu et al. (2026)
Politics and Partisan Affiliation
Partisan groups show differences in well-being during periods of democratic backsliding, with partisan affiliation predicting trajectories of well-being change over time.
Sources: Wu et al. (2026)
