Mental Health Fluctuations around Election Periods: A Longitudinal Study on Stress, Anxiety, and Depression

Background: Elections are important political actions that may trigger psychological distress. In politically transitioning regions, there is limited knowledge about mental health consequences around elections. Consequently, the main aim of the study is to assess changes in levels of stress, anxiety, and depression before and after the Kurdistan region 2024 parliamentary elections. Methods: This study employed a pre–post observational design to measure changes in mental health indicators before (October 2024) and 4 months after the election (February 2025). The Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 was used to assess the mental health issues. To determine statistical differences and predictive relationships, Paired-sample t -tests, Pearson correlations, and regression analyses were conducted. Results: A total of 99 individuals participated in the study. In comparison to before the elections, participants reported significantly lower levels of stress ( M = 20.85 to M = 17.95), anxiety ( M = 17.03 to M = 12.42), and depression ( M = 15.57 to M = 10.68) after the election (all P < 0.01). Moreover, Regression analysis discovered that pre-election scores significantly predicted post-election levels of distress across all three domains. Conclusions: Election-related mental health problems appear to decrease following the resolve of political insecurity. These outcomes highlight the need for mental health monitoring during elections. Future study required to capture long-term psychological effects of elections.