Public beliefs about the causes of good and bad health are well studied but inadequately theorized. Using nationally representative survey data and a large sample (N = 6,617), this study explores the potentially conflicting roles of system justification, politics, and personal experience. The study finds evidence for system justification, at least a contingent version that allows for self-serving biases. Multivariate regression models reveal that people believe that health reflects behavior, but those in poor health are more likely to believe that health also reflects external causes. In addition, beliefs about the causes of health have a strong political dimension, consistent with a status quo of presumed personal responsibility. Conservatives are less likely to believe health is a product of the social environment. Yet personal experiences with poor health are associated with these commitments, as revealed in multiplicative interactions. Among Republicans, experiences with poor health are positively associated with a more social view of health. Beliefs about the role of government in health follow a similar pattern. Indeed, predictions from the model indicate that differences between the political right and left deteriorate as health declines, producing majority support for government intervention in health care even among those who identify as very conservative. Just as there are no atheists in foxholes, there may be some political commitments people abandon when their health fails.
Jason Schnittker (Thu,) studied this question.