The role of change in the relationships among decent work, political cynicism and voter turnout

Abstract

Threats to decent working conditions and cynical views of politicians are increasingly prevalent in contemporary societies. The present study examines the potential relationship between these two trends and the mediating role that anger-related emotions may play in this relationship. Using latent growth modeling analyses and data from a panel survey of French employees collected during the 2021–2022 French electoral cycle, I found that within-person decreases in employees' perceptions of decent work were associated with within-person increases in anger and hostility toward the employing organization; increases in anger and hostility, in turn, were associated with within-person increases in political cynicism. Moreover, both initial levels and increases in political cynicism were associated with a lower likelihood of electoral participation. Overall, this research highlights how longitudinal change in workplace experiences may drive the dynamics of political cynicism and indirectly affect the vitality of democracy.