The Association between Affective Polarization and Political Stress

This bachelor thesis investigates the association between affective polarization and political stress. The aim of the thesis is to examine whether higher levels of affective polarization are associated with elevated levels of political stress. Specifically, the project seeks to explore how negative feelings and emotions toward opposing opinion-based groups on important political issues relate to individuals’ stress levels in political contexts. The study uses data from the Berlin Polarization Monitor (BPM), a panel survey from Germany. Both affective polarization and political stress are measured using BPM data. The expected outcome is that individuals displaying high affective polarization will report higher levels of political stress. It is also expected that this effect varies across the three following issues: climate change, asylum, and democracy.