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Gallup: Republicans "much Better Mental Health"


Lounge Daddy

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Republicans are in much better mental health than Independents (2nd) and Democrats (last) collectively speaking. Hmmm...

Well, [url="http://www.gallup.com/poll/102943/Republicans-Report-Much-Better-Mental-Health-Than-Others.aspx"]the full report is at Gallup.com[/url]

[img]http://media.gallup.com/poll/graphs/mentalhealth11302007graph1.gif[/img]

[font="Century Gothic"][size=2][u]Republicans Report Much Better Mental Health Than Others[/u]
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.
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PopeClementI(MorClemis)

Rating of "One's OWN mental health"? Is that a little like self-diagnosis? =0)

[quote name='Lounge Daddy' post='1427375' date='Nov 30 2007, 02:49 PM']Republicans are in much better mental health than Independents (2nd) and Democrats (last) collectively speaking. Hmmm...

Well, [url="http://www.gallup.com/poll/102943/Republicans-Report-Much-Better-Mental-Health-Than-Others.aspx"]the full report is at Gallup.com[/url]

[img]http://media.gallup.com/poll/graphs/mentalhealth11302007graph1.gif[/img]

[font="Century Gothic"][size=2][u]Republicans Report Much Better Mental Health Than Others[/u]
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.
[/size][/font][/quote]

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kenrockthefirst

[quote name='PopeClementI(MorClemis)' post='1427379' date='Nov 30 2007, 03:56 PM']Rating of "One's OWN mental health"? Is that a little like self-diagnosis? =0)[/quote]
Right. If a independent party measured folk's mental health using [i]objective criteria[/i], the results might actually have real meaning. Also, I didn't see the questions on the Gallup site. What question(s) were asked, i.e. how were they phrased? That could clearly have an impact on the results.

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KnightofChrist

Seems to be in line with other polls, Republicans are more often, Believe in God, to go to Church, give more to the poor time and money, happier, and I've seen somewhere have better love making.

Edited by KnightofChrist
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I was recalling the same thing - about other polls consistently showing republicans reporting generally happier etc, than do democrats.

Incidentally, I saw the hostage story at the Clinton office. I wonder if he votes democrat?

[quote]ABC NEWS: HOSTAGE TAKER A WELL-KNOWN LOCAL RESIDENT WITH HISTORY OF MENTAL ILLNESS... Developing...[/quote]

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kenrockthefirst

[quote name='KnightofChrist' post='1427386' date='Nov 30 2007, 04:26 PM']Seems to be in line with other polls, Republicans are more often, Believe in God, to go to Church, give more to the poor time and money, happier, and I've seen somewhere have better love making.[/quote]
[quote name='Lounge Daddy' post='1427390' date='Nov 30 2007, 04:49 PM']I was recalling the same thing - about other polls consistently showing republicans reporting generally happier etc, than do democrats.[/quote]
I can report that I'm the King of England. What would an independent party using [i]objective, measurable criteria[/i] have to say, however?

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KnightofChrist

Well they would say your crazy. Anyhow, what is your definition of independent or objective, measurable criteria? Last I knew Gallup and Zogby aren't wings of the Republican or Democratic Parties. And they "scientifically" poll/ask persons a list of questions on a particular subject, and measure the findings.

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[quote name='KnightofChrist' post='1427386' date='Nov 30 2007, 04:26 PM']Seems to be in line with other polls, Republicans are more often, Believe in God, to go to Church, give more to the poor time and money, happier, and I've seen somewhere have better love making.[/quote]
That last part is only because there are chaste Catholics in the Republican party to pull up the average. :))

I'd say that the GOP has better mental health than the Dems, for the reasons you mentioned. I wouldn't trust the stats on this one, but common sense I will trust.

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PopeClementI(MorClemis)

I have to say that anyone who measures mental health based on political affiliation can't be trusted to interpret statistics - unless the groups include the Nazi Party, the KKK, the Maoist-Communist, the Stalinist-Communists, or another totalitarian regime.

The Democrats and Republicans have more in common than differ..

The Statistic measured above is only useful to see what people think about themselves. It doesn't say Republicans are ACTUALLY more healthy mentally, only that they think they are.

I can see how that can be interpreted in a completely other manner - Dems and Indys are more open to being helped and are willing to admit they have mental issues, whereas Repubs tend to go by the 'pick yourself by the bootstraps' mentality and won't admit they need help.. Not to mention, psychology is a big field in the Blue States and in urban environments and has become mainstream, while still looked down upon in the rural areas and hard to find.

Edited by PopeClementI(MorClemis)
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KnightofChrist

[quote name='PopeClementI(MorClemis)' post='1427447' date='Nov 30 2007, 07:19 PM']I have to say that anyone who measures mental health based on political affiliation can't be trusted to interpret statistics - unless the groups include the Nazi Party, the KKK, the Maoist-Communist, the Stalinist-Communists, or another totalitarian regime.

The Democrats and Republicans have more in common than differ..

The Statistic measured above is only useful to see what people think about themselves. It doesn't say Republicans are ACTUALLY more healthy mentally, only that they think they are.

I can see how that can be interpreted in a completely other manner - Dems and Indys are more open to being helped and are willing to admit they have mental issues, whereas Repubs tend to go by the 'pick yourself by the bootstraps' mentality and won't admit they need help.. Not to mention, psychology is a big field in the Blue States and in urban environments and has become mainstream, while still looked down upon in the rural areas and hard to find.[/quote]

Now see whats going on here your measuring or forming a opinion of mental health based on political affiliation. How many people have you scientifically polled to back your analysis?

Edited by KnightofChrist
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Ash Wednesday

Wasn't it Michael Savage who had a book titled "liberalism is a mental disorder"? I'm sure he's having a field day with this. :lol:

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PopeClementI(MorClemis)

Exactly! You see the absurdity of the whole poll? The poll asks for a self-diagnosis, which is completely unreliable. Also the poll itself makes it clear that the results do NOT claim Republicans have better help, only that they REPORT themselves to have better mental health. I think most can agree that a self-report is subject to all kinds of errors.

Imagine if a poll asked people to self report if they pay too much in taxes. It will be nearly 100% that each person thinks they pay too much - does that mean they pay more than others? Not necessarily. It means they THINK they do, which is completely subjective and unreliable.

[quote name='KnightofChrist' post='1427455' date='Nov 30 2007, 06:29 PM']Now see whats going on here your measuring or forming a opinion of mental health based on political affiliation. How many people have you scientifically polled to back your analysis?[/quote]

Edited by PopeClementI(MorClemis)
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KnightofChrist

[quote name='PopeClementI(MorClemis)' post='1427526' date='Nov 30 2007, 08:50 PM']Exactly! You see the absurdity of the whole poll? The poll asks for a self-diagnosis, which is completely unreliable.[/quote]


No, there is have no data to back up your opinion or analysis, Gallup has data, formed from polling persons questions, and not purely from there own opinion based on nothing but nothing but their opinion.

Self-diagnosis of ones own mental health is not completely unreliable, because the majority of people are not mentality insane. I know when I am happy, or sad. Depressed persons most always are honest with the fact their are depressed. Cheerful persons most always are honest with the fact their happy.

And I dont see where the poll makes a actual medical diagnosis, people can know when their physically not feeling well, so they can also know when their mentally not feeling well.

That being said a group like Gallup can poll these people and group them into groups like political parties, sex, or nationality and publish the information.

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