Mind Over Martial Law

Politics, as a chronic stressor, has been found to significantly influence individuals’ emotions. While feeling unpleasant about distressing political events is natural, how individuals regulate their emotions in such situations is linked to varying levels of psychological well-being and political participation by shaping their negative emotional responses to political events (i.e., system-based negative emotion). We examined these relationships using data from South Korea’s recent political crisis—the martial law incident of 3 December 2024—which served as both a significant stressor and a catalyst for increased political action. Specifically, the following three pathways were tested simultaneously using structural equation modelling: (i) Positive reappraisal was expected to be associated with higher well-being but lower political engagement through reduced system-based negative emotion. (ii) Rumination was expected to be related to lower well-being but greater political action, mediated by heightened system-based negative emotion. (iii) Planning was hypothesised to be associated with both higher well-being and greater political engagement, mediated by decreased system-based negative emotion through directly addressing stressors. This study may extend research on emotion regulation in political distress by applying an existing framework, developed in Western contexts, to a significant political event in South Korea. Additionally, by examining not only intra-individual well-being but also its societal implications, this paper can provide multifaceted perspective in understanding ER strategies.