ABSTRACT
Differences in political participation have traditionally been explained by political orientations, that is, the way people psychologically approach political phenomena. This chapter analyzes these psychological or attitudinal differences between people in good or poor health, as well as discusses whether these differences could offer an explanation for varying levels of political participation. In their classic study on civic culture, G. A. Almond and S. Verba defined political orientations as "attitudes toward the political system and its various parts, and attitudes toward the role of the self in the system". Political scientists have also emphasized the role of two critical indicators of the overall support for an entire political system: trust in political institutions and citizens' satisfaction with the way that democracy works. The chapter concentrates on citizens' psychological attachments to politics and how these attachments are connected to individuals' health status or disability.
