# A sense of injustice is not a character flaw — it is a real burden carried by the nervous system.

- URL: https://alisanburak.com/en/adaletsizlik-hissi-bir-karakter-zaafi-degil-sinir-sisteminin-tasidigi-gercek-bir-yuktur
- Language: en
- Last updated: 2026-08-15
- Page title: A sense of injustice is not a character flaw — it is a real burden carried by the nervous system. | Assoc. Prof. Dr. Alişan Burak Yaşar

> There is a strong link between perceived injustice and depressive symptoms: a meta-analysis combining 33 studies found a correlation of r = 0.57, with no c

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# A sense of injustice is not a character flaw — it is a real burden carried by the nervous system.

July 6, 2026Recent Articles

There is a strong link between perceived injustice and depressive symptoms: a meta-analysis combining 33 studies found a correlation of r = 0.57, with no conflicting evidence directly refuting it. Justice is examined across distinct dimensions: procedural justice (fair decision-making), relational justice (respectful treatment), distributive justice (fair distribution of work), and personal belief in a just world ("the world treats me fairly"). The most consistently protective dimension is personal belief in a just world.

Workplace justice predicts mental health: a review of 11 prospective studies shows that procedural and relational justice predict mental health independently of other models, such as workload or effort–reward balance. So how does injustice affect the body? Through the following chain: perceived injustice → chronic stress response → cortisol dysregulation → low-grade inflammation. Autonomy, in contrast, is a basic psychological need (the correlation between autonomy and well-being is r = 0.46), and psychological empowerment is inversely associated with hopelessness, self-harm, and suicidal ideation in adolescents.

An important nuance: the general belief that "the world is fair to everyone" is not always protective and can obscure actual injustice; most of the evidence is observational, meaning we can say "predicts," but not "definitely causes." The good news is that perceived justice is not a fixed destiny, but a modifiable variable. Naming injustice, distinguishing what is within your control, participating in decisions (using your voice), fostering autonomy, and seeking professional support when needed — all can help.

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