Abstract
Longitudinal studies on civic engagement and health have focused on the long-term implications of volunteering on health outcomes, including mortality risk (Jenkinson et al., 2013; Okun et al., 2013). Yet it’s important to understand other forms of civic engagement, like voting. Longitudinal research on voting has examined how prior health predicts later voting behavior. We examine the opposite direction: whether voting behavior predicts a lower later mortality risk among older Americans. Using data from the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study (N=3,885; 54% female), and objective Catalist voting records, we examine whether older adults who voted in the 2004 through 2012 presidential elections had a lower mortality risk in 2022. Controlling for previous health, well-being, and sociodemographic variables (including political affiliation), older adults who voted had a lower mortality risk up to 14 years later. Both in-person and remote voting were associated with reduced mortality risk. Voting has been promoted as a public health initiative to boost community health, and we find evidence that it may be associated with better health in voters themselves. This study contributes to understanding another social determinant of health and may have implications for designing policies to increase accessible voting.
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
Social and Cultural Perspectives on Aging
KEYWORDS
Voting, Civic Engagement, Health, Mortality Risk, Older Adults
