Feeling the body politic: Interoception as a mechanism of political stress resilience

Abstract

Politics can substantially harm physical and mental health, especially in polarized contexts, making political polarization a major non‐medical cause of disease and suffering. We examined whether citizens can protect their health without undermining civic engagement. Across three studies with over 2000 participants during the 2022 U.S. midterms and 2024 presidential election, we show that interoceptive sensibility, that is, the ability to perceive and trust one's internal bodily signals, protects against politics' adverse health effects. Higher interoceptive sensibility consistently predicted lower emotional, physical, behavioral, and social health costs, controlling for political identity, demographics, and emotion regulation. During the charged 2024 election, it further predicted fewer negative emotions, more hope for the future, and less fear, particularly when their candidate lost. Interoceptive sensibility also correlated with political engagement and efficacy, suggesting it enhances rather than inhibits participation. Our findings highlight it as a promising trait for mitigating political stress without reducing civic involvement.