Türkiye’de Seçimlerde Oy Verme ve Refah Bağlamında Siyasal Kutuplaşmanın Olumsuz ve Olumlu Etkileri

Esin Şen; Merve Alabak; Philippe Verduyn

doi:10.35365/eass.26.1.03

Authors

Esin Şen Maastricht University https://orcid.org/0009-0008-6863-9835
Merve Alabak Maastricht University https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2260-9672
Philippe Verduyn Maastricht University https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8266-2216

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.35365/eass.26.1.03

Keywords:

Affective polarization, life satisfaction, voting, emotion regulation, reappraisal

Abstract

Türkiye has recently undergone an election process. During this period, differences among political groups and their varying positions have been observed, indicating a certain level of polarization among voters. These developments may be associated with individuals’ emotion regulation, well-being, and motivation to participate in future elections. In this context, political environments characterized by divergence may influence how individuals interpret and respond to emotionally charged situations. Therefore, the present study aims to examine the relationship between affective polarization, well-being, and voting behavior among Turkish citizens, while considering the moderating role of emotion regulation strategies. The study employed moderation models to investigate the effects of affective polarization and trait reappraisal on voting likelihood and life satisfaction. Data were analyzed using established statistical procedures to explore both direct and interaction effects among variables. The findings indicate that higher levels of affective polarization are associated with a higher likelihood of voting and lower life satisfaction. Trait reappraisal did not demonstrate a significant moderating effect on the relationship between affective polarization and life satisfaction. However, trait reappraisal showed a significant moderating effect on the relationship between affective polarization and voting. Overall, this study contributes to the literature by highlighting the psychological processes underlying political participation and the role of emotion regulation in shaping these relationships.

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