The political polarization of health outcomes in the USA
A study reveals that conservative Americans have experienced worse health outcomes and higher mortality rates compared to liberals during the 2010s. This disparity is attributed to demographic shifts and declining trust in medical professionals among conservatives. The findings suggest that political beliefs are increasingly influencing health behaviors and outcomes in the USA.
- ▪Conservative Americans faced worsening health and higher mortality rates than liberals in the 2010s.
- ▪Demographic changes and public policy do not fully explain the widening gap in mortality rates.
- ▪Declining trust in medical professionals among conservatives has led to lower willingness to seek care and follow medical advice.
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Download PDF Article Open access Published: 14 May 2026 The political polarization of health outcomes in the USA Elizabeth Elder ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-9741-50121 & Neil A. O’Brian ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0003-2196-00112 Nature Human Behaviour (2026) Cite this article 49k Accesses 279 Altmetric Metrics details Subjects Human behaviourPolitics and international relations AbstractPublic health disparities provide an important lens for understanding social and political change in the USA. Using individual-level medical data and death records, this study shows that conservative Americans experienced worsening health and higher mortality than liberals during the 2010s. Here we find evidence consistent with two potential mechanisms.
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