The politics of well-being during democratic backsliding: How partisan affiliation and support for government actions relate to happiness and life satisfaction

Democratic backsliding impacts both institutions and the psychological well-being of individuals living within them. In such contexts, individuals decide whether to support or oppose government actions that may erode democratic norms. In this longitudinal study, we examined partisan differences in subjective well-being during the early months of President Trump’s second term—a period marked by sweeping policy changes and heightened concerns about democratic decline. Across five weeks, Democrats consistently reported lower life satisfaction and happiness than Republicans. Republicans increased in well-being over time, whereas Democrats showed both linear and quadratic change, as initial decreases in well-being were followed by increases in well-being. Republicans were more supportive of the administration’s actions, while Democrats expressed greater support for actions taken against the administration. Greater support for administration actions was associated with higher well-being, whereas greater support for oppositional actions was correlated with lower well-being. These associations generally held even after controlling for political affiliation and demographics, suggesting that dissatisfaction with government actions carries psychological consequences beyond partisan identity. These findings highlight asymmetric well-being consequences during a period of democratic decline, showing that alignment with government actions may provide short-term psychological comfort, while opposition—though vital for democratic resilience—may carry psychological costs.