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Lonely Hearts, Empty Booths? The Relationship between Loneliness, Reported Voting Behavior and Voting as Civic Duty

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  • Alexander Langenkamp

Abstract

Objective The study investigates the relationship between perceived loneliness and the individuals' attitude whether voting is a civic duty. With that, it is the first study to shed light on the mechanism linking perceived loneliness to voting behavior. Methods Two independent, cross‐sectional, and representative datasets from Germany (n = 1641) and the Netherlands (n = 1431) are analyzed. Results The regression results and effect decomposition techniques show that loneliness is associated with reduced intention to vote as well as a lower sense of duty to vote. The effect of loneliness on voting behavior is partially mediated through a reduced sense of duty. Conclusion Loneliness is associated with political disengagement. The study provides empirical evidence that the relationship between loneliness and turnout is partially mediated through sense of duty. This showcases that lonely individuals tend to feel detached from society and are less likely to feel obligated to participate in the electoral process.

Suggested Citation

  • Alexander Langenkamp, 2021. "Lonely Hearts, Empty Booths? The Relationship between Loneliness, Reported Voting Behavior and Voting as Civic Duty," Social Science Quarterly, Southwestern Social Science Association, vol. 102(4), pages 1239-1254, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:socsci:v:102:y:2021:i:4:p:1239-1254
    DOI: 10.1111/ssqu.12946
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    1. Julianne Holt-Lunstad & Timothy B Smith & J Bradley Layton, 2010. "Social Relationships and Mortality Risk: A Meta-analytic Review," PLOS Medicine, Public Library of Science, vol. 7(7), pages 1-1, July.
    2. Jeremy R. Levine & Theodore S. Leenman & Carl Gershenson & David M. Hureau, 2018. "Political Places: Neighborhood Social Organization and the Ecology of Political Behaviors," Social Science Quarterly, Southwestern Social Science Association, vol. 99(1), pages 201-215, March.
    3. Patrick Flavin & Michael Keane, 2012. "Life Satisfaction and Political Participation: Evidence from the United States," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 13(1), pages 63-78, March.
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    Cited by:

    1. Elena Stepanova & Marius Alt & Astrid Hopfensitz, 2024. "Loneliness And Trust: Evidence From A Large-Scale Trust Game Experiment," Working Papers hal-04813938, HAL.
    2. Peterson, Delaney & Rooduijn, Matthijs & Hopp, Frederic R. & Schumacher, Gijs & Bakker, Bert N., 2025. "Loneliness is positively associated with populist radical right support," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 366(C).
    3. Rebechi, Alessio & Lepinteur, Anthony & Clark, Andrew E. & Rohde, Nicholas & Vögele, Claus & D’Ambrosio, Conchita, 2024. "Loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic: Evidence from five European countries," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 55(C).
    4. Casabianca, Elizabeth & Kovacic, Matija, 2024. "Social interactions, loneliness and health: A new angle on an old debate," GLO Discussion Paper Series 1378, Global Labor Organization (GLO).

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