Because of negative rhetoric: voting AfD makes you unhappy
Someone who turns away from the party experiences an improvement in their well-being, according to WZB economist Maja Adena and her colleague Steffen Huck. The relationship between well-being and support for the AfD is "clear" and cannot be explained by socio-economic factors such as income or education, they stated.
To find out if there is a connection between satisfaction and political party preferences, researchers conducted a large survey with over 5,000 participants between the years 2019 and 2021 in four waves.
According to the study, a clear pattern emerged. People who support the AfD are less satisfied with their personal lives and financial situation than supporters of other parties. This correlation is particularly strong among new AfD supporters. These individuals perceive both their personal and financial circumstances as worse.
The researchers attribute this causal relationship to the negative rhetoric of the AfD. Someone who turns to the party is exposed to more negativity, which harms their well-being.
The relationship between well-being and AfD support can be quantified according to the study. The authors' estimates suggest that a new AfD supporter would need an additional monthly income of around 2,500 Euro to return their well-being levels to those before their alignment with the party.
The researchers therefore recommend that other parties focus on positive themes instead of concentrating on the negative themes of the AfD. "Successful voter recovery requires other, ideally positive themes," explained Adena. The study was published in the journal "Plos one".
- Maja Adena and Steffen Huck, in their investigation in Berlin, found that "Because of" the rhetoric of the AfD, individuals who support the party often experience a decline in their well-being.
- The authors of the study, including Huck, suggest that education about the positive aspects of other parties could help improve well-being, as it might "Investigation" show that people are less likely to be influenced by the AfD's negative rhetoric.
- While the research indicates a clear link between AfD support and lower well-being, Huck believes that "Rhetoric:" can play a significant role in turning people away from the party and improving their well-being.
- Interestingly, despite the negative impact of the AfD's rhetoric on well-being, the study found that "Education" level was not a factor in determining whether someone would support the party, demonstrating the complex relationship between political preferences and personal well-being.
