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Loneliness is positively associated with populist radical right support

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  • Peterson, Delaney
  • Rooduijn, Matthijs
  • Hopp, Frederic R.
  • Schumacher, Gijs
  • Bakker, Bert N.

Abstract

The mental and physical health consequences of loneliness are well documented. However, loneliness's socio-political ramifications have been largely unexplored. We theorize that loneliness, due to its physiologically dysregulating impact on the nervous system, facilitates greater susceptibility towards populist radical right parties.

Suggested Citation

  • 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).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:366:y:2025:i:c:s027795362500005x
    DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2025.117676
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Fan Wang & Yu Gao & Zhen Han & Yue Yu & Zhiping Long & Xianchen Jiang & Yi Wu & Bing Pei & Yukun Cao & Jingyu Ye & Maoqing Wang & Yashuang Zhao, 2023. "A systematic review and meta-analysis of 90 cohort studies of social isolation, loneliness and mortality," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 7(8), pages 1307-1319, August.
    2. Kinga Bierwiaczonek & Sam Fluit & Tilmann Soest & Matthew J. Hornsey & Jonas R. Kunst, 2024. "Loneliness trajectories over three decades are associated with conspiracist worldviews in midlife," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-8, December.
    3. Nayak, Sameera S. & Fraser, Timothy & Panagopoulos, Costas & Aldrich, Daniel P. & Kim, Daniel, 2021. "Is divisive politics making Americans sick? Associations of perceived partisan polarization with physical and mental health outcomes among adults in the United States," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 284(C).
    4. 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.
    5. Margaret Penning & Guiping Liu & Pak Chou, 2014. "Measuring Loneliness Among Middle-Aged and Older Adults: The UCLA and de Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scales," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 118(3), pages 1147-1166, September.
    6. Kavanagh, Nolan M. & Menon, Anil & Heinze, Justin E., 2021. "Does Health Vulnerability Predict Voting for Right-Wing Populist Parties in Europe?," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 115(3), pages 1104-1109, August.
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    Cited by:

    1. Berlingieri, Francesco & d'Hombres, Béatrice & Kovacic, Matija, 2025. "Disentangling loneliness and trust in populist voting behaviour in Europe," GLO Discussion Paper Series 1634, Global Labor Organization (GLO).

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