Predictors of Mental Health Problems Among Trump-Supporting

Background and Purpose: Working-class men, particularly those in politically conservative regions of the U.S., have reported feeling disenfranchised and negatively stereotyped, given the multiple challenges they face (e.g., poverty, underemployment) (Garnet-Deakin & Sanner, 2024). Many such men also endorse hegemonic masculinity (i.e., the belief that men should be strong and dominant) and disproportionately voted for Trump (Brown, 2024). Contextual challenges, traditional masculine norms, and the role of the father are likely to contribute to the mental health of men and fathers (e.g., Wong et al., 2016). It is critical to specifically examine Trump-supporting fathers’ mental health, given the impact they have on their children’s development and the sociopolitical realm. The current study aimed to identify predictors of Trump-supporting fathers’ mental health. Based on prior research (e.g., Garnet-Deakin & Sanner, 2024; Petts et al., 2018), it was hypothesized that more traditional masculine norms and contextual challenges would be associated with higher mental health problems, whereas placing a higher value on the role of the father would be linked with lower mental health problems.

Methods: Data were collected using Qualtrics panel and included a national sample of fathers who voted for Trump in the 2024 presidential election (N=379). The Male Role Norms Inventory-Short Form was used to assess the beliefs of fathers’ traditional masculine norms. Role of the Father Questionnaire was employed to measure fathers’ beliefs about the role of the father. Measure of Fathers’ Challenges was used to capture fathers’ contextual challenges. Fathers’ mental health problems focused on depressive symptoms (Patient Health Questionnaire; PHQ-9); anxiety (General Anxiety Disorder; GAD-7); and stress (Perceived Stress Scale; PSS-4). Multivariable regression was conducted, controlling for a robust set of sociodemographic covariates.

Results: Descriptive results showed that on average fathers were 45 years old and identified as White (74%), heterosexual (96%), married (66%), and middle income with a median income of $77,000. Most (80%) had previously voted for Trump. Multivariable regression results showed that more traditional masculine norm beliefs (β=0.57, SE=0.28, p=.039) and fathers’ contextual challenges (β=0.11, SE=0.01, p<.001) were linked with higher levels of fathers’ depressive symptoms. Similar trends were found for fathers’ anxiety. More positive beliefs about the role of fathers were linked with lower levels of fathers’ stress only (β=-0.05, SE=0.20, p<.016).

Conclusion and Implications: These results suggest that endorsing traditional masculine norms and experiencing multiple contextual challenges are risk factors for poor mental health, whereas placing a high value on the role of the father could be a protective factor against mental health problems among Trump-supporting fathers. Implications include addressing the mental health needs of such fathers through parenting interventions that reduce rigid views on masculinity and providing resources to address contextual challenges. They also point to practice and policy efforts to educate Trump-supporting men on the importance of their fathering role, as well as build father-inclusive systems, to meet their psychological needs.