Replication Data for: A Tradeoff Between Mental Well-Being and Political Mobilization

When mental wellness interventions reduce young people’s anxiety, but anxiety predicts their greater political engagement, what is the balance between robust democratic participation and mental well-being? This question is especially salient at a time when over 60% of students report mental health concerns nationally, and this demographic (historically engaging in politics at lower levels than other adults) also shows record voter turnout. We use a field experiment to reduce anxiety by an average 11%, and we show that reducing anxiety also lowers downstream political engagement. A survey experiment more clearly identifies the psychological component of this mobilization/mental well-being tradeoff. Given our sample, these insights are particularly salient for low-income students and students of color -- from communities frequently underrepresented in politics -- for whom recent political, economic, and health currents especially have affected their physical and mental well-being.