Geopolitical rhetoric as a potential psychological stressor: A conceptual review of mechanisms linking political discourse and population mental health

Although the mental health consequences of armed conflict, displacement, and climate-related disasters are well documented, the psychological effects of geopolitical rhetoric itself (independent of material events) remain insufficiently examined. This narrative review provides a conceptual and interdisciplinary synthesis of emerging and heterogeneous evidence on how threat-oriented political narratives may influence population mental health through indirect, mediated, and context-dependent pathways. The reviewed literature suggests convergent patterns across five thematic areas: symbolic threat and heightened vigilance; perceived uncertainty and loss of control; indirect effects of repeated media exposure; intersections with climate-related distress; and differential vulnerability across populations. Although empirical studies explicitly operationalising geopolitical rhetoric are limited, evidence from adjacent domains indicates that persistent exposure to such narratives may function as a chronic psychosocial stressor, extending beyond directly affected regions. Given the limited availability of direct empirical research, this review should be understood primarily as a theory-building synthesis rather than a consolidation of a well-established evidence base. These effects appear cumulative, are amplified by contemporary media environments, and are particularly salient in climate-sensitive and socially vulnerable contexts. Taken together, this review proposes a conceptual framework in which geopolitical rhetoric may act as an emerging contextual determinant of population mental health, with implications for preventive strategies, responsible public communication, and future research on socio-political determinants of psychological well-being.