Disability, health and political representation

Abstract

This panel investigates the roles that disability and mental health conditions play in political engagement and representation, at both the citizen and the elite levels. While we know that disabled people and those with mental health conditions tend to be less likely to vote and are under-represented amongst political representatives, we need a better understanding of the causes of and potential solutions for these inequalities. The papers address whether, where, and why mental health and disability depress engagement; what barriers disabled representatives face and how access can be improved; and how, in turn, politics can affect citizens’ mental health. The panel brings together research from different contexts and using different methodologies, including survey data analysis, survey experiments, and qualitative analysis.

Title	Details
Is the depression-voting gap a widespread phenomenon? Evidence from longitudinal surveys on a large spectrum of mental health conditions	View Paper Details
Framing Disability: Voter Evaluations of Candidate Self-Presentations in Election Campaigns	View Paper Details
Learning from peers: Creating a fairer working environment for MPs with disabilities in the House of Commons	View Paper Details
Is politics a risk factor for mental distress? The consequences of affective polarisation on mental health and wellbeing	View Paper Details