Fact-Check Article: "Are Conservatives Crazy?"
What We Know
The claim that "are conservatives crazy" can be interpreted in various ways, but it often refers to the perceived mental well-being of conservatives compared to liberals. Research indicates that American conservatives tend to report better mental health than their liberal counterparts. According to a study published in PLOS ONE, conservatives rated their mental health more positively, and this trend has been consistent over time, with surveys showing that 47% of Republicans reported being "very happy," compared to only 28% of Democrats (Schaffner et al., 2025).
The study suggests that this ideological mental health gap may be influenced by several factors, including the tendency of conservatives to justify existing inequalities, which can lead to a more positive self-assessment of their mental health (Schaffner et al., 2025). Additionally, conservatives often score higher on measures associated with better mental health, such as religiosity and marital status (Schaffner et al., 2025).
However, the research also indicates that when individuals are asked about their overall mood rather than their mental health, the gap between conservatives and liberals disappears, suggesting that the way questions are framed may influence responses (Schaffner et al., 2025).
Analysis
The evidence supporting the claim that conservatives have better mental health than liberals is substantial, with multiple studies corroborating this finding. For instance, a survey highlighted that conservatives outnumber liberals significantly among those reporting excellent mental health (USA Today, 2025). Furthermore, data from a New York Post article indicated that a majority of individuals identifying as politically liberal reported poor mental health compared to their conservative counterparts (New York Post, 2025).
However, the interpretation of these findings requires careful consideration. The study by Schaffner et al. suggests that the ideological mental health gap may not be entirely due to political beliefs but rather correlated factors such as religiosity, marital status, and socioeconomic status, which are more prevalent among conservatives (Schaffner et al., 2025). Additionally, the stigma surrounding mental health may lead conservatives to inflate their self-reported mental health ratings, as they may associate mental illness with weakness (Tufts University, 2024).
Moreover, the reliability of the sources varies. While peer-reviewed studies provide a strong foundation for the claims, opinion pieces and media reports may introduce bias or oversimplification of complex issues. For example, articles from Columbia Magazine and PsyPost provide alternative perspectives that question the existence of a genuine mental health divide, suggesting that the reported differences may be overstated (Columbia Magazine, 2025; PsyPost, 2025).
Conclusion
The claim that "are conservatives crazy" is Partially True. While there is evidence suggesting that conservatives report better mental health than liberals, this conclusion is nuanced. The ideological differences in mental health assessments may be influenced by various factors, including social and economic conditions, as well as the stigma surrounding mental health discussions. Therefore, while conservatives may appear to have better mental health based on self-reports, the underlying reasons for this disparity warrant further investigation and caution against oversimplified interpretations.
Sources
- Do conservatives really have better mental well-being than ...
- Do conservatives really have better mental well-being than ...
- Do conservatives really have better mental health? Perhaps ...
- Why Depression Rates Are Higher Among Liberals
- Conservatives report better mental health than liberals. I ...
- Is it any wonder liberals are having a mental health crisis?
- Do conservatives really have better mental well-being than ...
- New research suggests the conservative mental health ...
