A New Tunnel Effect? The Impact of Stress on Vote Choice

Jérôme Couture,Sandra Breux

doi:10.3389/fpos.2021.589548

Jérôme Couture, Sandra Breux

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3389/fpos.2021.589548

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Abstract

The literature shows a link between stress and voter turnout, but does stress influence vote choice as well? What would explain such a relationship? Using a survey of Quebec (Canada) voters conducted during the 2017 municipal election (n = 1,130), we show that 1) there is a relationship between stress and vote choice, and 2) voters who consider road congestion to be an important issue and who report being stressed tend to vote for the party that has taken a stand in favor of highway projects and against public transit. While many studies show an association between road congestion and the psychological health of individuals, our research invites us to consider the political impacts of such a relationship.

Highlights

Studies show that urban mobility issues can influence stress (Beland and Brent 2018) and that stress is linked to mental health and voter turnout (Thoits, 2013; Hassell and Settle 2017)
We will show that there is a link between stress and vote choice
Our research shows that there is a link between stress and vote choice

Summary

Introduction

Studies show that urban mobility issues can influence stress (Beland and Brent 2018) and that stress is linked to mental health and voter turnout (Thoits, 2013; Hassell and Settle 2017). Mental health is associated with political ideology, electoral participation and vote choice, while dissatisfaction and anxiety influence the attention voters give to political issues (Bernardi, 2020b). The importance of an issue and its ownership by a political party can influence vote choice (Petrocik 1996). The relationship between stress and vote choice varies depending on the importance respondents placed on the issues of traffic congestion and public transit. The relationship between stress and vote choice is not affected by ideology or self-rated mental health. Studies have mainly focused on the importance of ideology in the relationship between health and vote choice

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