GALLUP: Repugs Report Much Better Mental Health Than Others

[jefferson_dem]

Republicans Report Much Better Mental Health Than Others
Relationship persists even when controlling for other variables
by Frank Newport

PRINCETON, NJ -- Republicans are significantly more likely than Democrats or independents to rate their mental health as excellent, according to data from the last four November Gallup Health and Healthcare polls. Fifty-eight percent of Republicans report having excellent mental health, compared to 43% of independents and 38% of Democrats. This relationship between party identification and reports of excellent mental health persists even within categories of income, age, gender, church attendance, and education.

The basic data -- based on an aggregated sample of more than 4,000 interviews conducted since 2004 -- are straightforward.

The differences are quite significant, as can be seen. While Democrats are slightly less likely to report excellent mental health than are independents, the big distinctions in these data are the differences between Republicans and everyone else.

One could be quick to assume that these differences are based on the underlying demographic and socioeconomic patterns related to party identification in America today. A recent Gallup report (see "Strong Relationship Between Income and Mental Health" in Related Items) reviewed these mental health data more generally, and found that men, those with higher incomes, those with higher education levels, and whites are more likely than others to report excellent mental health. Some of these patterns describe characteristics of Republicans, of course.

But an analysis of the relationship between party identification and self-reported excellent mental health within various categories of age, gender, church attendance, income, education, and other variables shows that the basic pattern persists regardless of these characteristics. In other words, party identification appears to have an independent effect on mental health even when each of these is controlled for.

The accompanying graphs display the relationship between party identification and self-reported mental health crossed by categories of a number of relevant variables. In almost all cases, Republicans are more likely to report excellent mental health across the various categories.

For example, Republicans are significantly more likely to report excellent mental health than are independents or Democrats among those making less than $50,000 a year, and among those making at least $50,000 a year. Republicans are also more likely than independents and Democrats to report excellent mental health within all four categories of educational attainment.



<SNIP>

http://www.gallup.com/poll/102943/Republicans-Report-Much-Better-Mental-Health-Than-Others.aspx

[TwilightGardener]

1. Only caring about yourself must be very unstressful.

[fenriswolf]

3. not being able to identify a problem

in the political spectrum, economically or personal problem is not stressfull, how can they stress about something they do not see as a problem? ignorance is bliss.

[Karenina]

32. Paraphrasing Krishnamurti

To be "well-adjusted" in a profoundly sick society is NOT a sign of good health.

[silverweb]

7. Yes.

It's one of the side benefits of being wealthy and narcissistic.

[dflprincess]

9. No, I think it's that it's very hard to recongize mental illness in yourself

I'm sure most the Republicans who responded to this survey believe they are mentally healthy and they really are hearing God talk to them. :evilgrin:

[Joanne98]

2. Because they're LIARS!

[PDJane]

4. They're just better at denial..................eom

[Mountainman]

5. Ask a repuke if their mental health is ok they say yes, ask them to vote against their own best

interests they say OK, ask them who tells the truth they say Rush. Now do you believe their mental health is ok?

[BeyondGeography]

6. Better to have a wide stance on self-perceived mental health

than a wide stance in the men's room.

[killbotfactory]

8. Self-reported mental health?

This just shows they are more arrogant, hardly news. :evilgrin:

[bullimiami]

10. the truly insane never think they are crazy.

[hisownpetard]

11. Of course they think their mental health is excellent - they're delusional!!!!!

[sufrommich]

12. Ignorance is bliss. nt

[BootinUp]

31. Can you plug me back into the matrix?

I don't want to remember anything... NOTHING!

And I want to be rich.

[DuaneBidoux]

13. The "peace of Jesus." If only you could feel it.

Nothing like refusing to ask a question to which the answer makes you feel distinctly uncomfortable.

[depakid]

14. Denial is a powerful thing

The VERY SICKEST people that I've met -and those with the most need of help are in denial about their disorders, whether they're on Axis I or more likely Axis II (the personality disorders) many of which are characterized by a lack of empathy.

[Old and In the Way]

15. I'll bet they consider themselves more physically attractive, too.

Because they self-report it, doesn't mean it's true. I'd be far more interested in a study conducted by psychologists who can objectively evaluate a person's mental health and publish those results based on political identification.

[Kucinich4America]

16. Oh jumping Jesus on a nuclear pogo stick, that's funny!

People who believe that Ronald Reagan was the Second Coming of Christ, and that Chimp is a "courageous leader" are bragging about their mental health?? :rofl:

Orwell is doing triple somersaults in his grave.

[Flabbergasted]

17. How come there isn't an "I'm nuts" choice. nt

[BrklynLiberal]

30. bwaahaahaahaa

:rofl:

[Tactical Progressive]

18. They have no internal conflicts

They are wonderful and everyone else is evil.

It's a very low-stress mindset, and to keep it that way, they never, ever look in the mirror to see the exact opposite is true.

[1corona4u]

19. I believe the word for them is...

delusional.

[Jane Austin]

20. Well a good many of them don't have any consciences,

so they'd always be pretty happy with themselves.

Those would be ones so authoritarian that if they live by their checklists, they're not only ok, they can prove it! "See, here's my checklist."

Checklist for authoritarians.

1. Good (fundy) Christian (or Muslim or Jew or whatever)? Check.

2. Support the troops? Check.

3. Says "We're Number One!" several times a day. Check.

4. Keeps lawn mowed. Check.

5. Swaggers daily. Check.

6. Hates unions. Check

- You can fill in the rest. :)

[Perry Logan]

21. STUDY: Conservatism can be explained as a set of neuroses rooted in "fear and aggression,..."

A study funded by the US government has concluded that conservatism can be explained psychologically as a set of neuroses rooted in "fear and aggression, dogmatism and the intolerance of ambiguity".
http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,12271,1017546,00.html

[Armstead]

22. One sign of being crazy is denying you're crazy

[hvn_nbr_2]

23. Just like the drunk who doesn't have a drinking problem.

Drunk: I don't have a drinking problem. I drink, I get drunk, I fall down and pass out. No problem.

Republican: I don't have any mental health problems. I like torture, love war, love seeing poor people die, I just adore those pictures of smart bombs blowing up people's houses, and I think it's great that our culture of life supports blowing up doctors and medical clinics. I don't have any mental health problems.

[ladjf]

24. Add another delusion to the long list of Republican fallacies.

[Grandrose]

25. Self diagnosis ...and we should take their word for it?

Repubs are so self absorbed, they wouldn't know the difference!:eyes:

[ingac70]

26. Crazy people don't know they are crazy. n/t.

[blm]

27. NAME ONE REPORT where a Republican DIDN'T LIE - ever.

.

[BrklynLiberal]

28. Selfishness DOES NOT = Self-awareness!!!!

Even if they actually thought they were having problems, the repukes would be the last to ever admit it anyway...

The actual connection is between self-delusion and being a repuke, not between being healthy and being a repuke.

[BrklynLiberal]

29. self-delete..posted in wrong place