When
Where
The Political Consequences of Loneliness
Abstract: Many Americans say that they are feeling lonely and isolated, and in 2023 the Surgeon General declared the loneliness epidemic to be a public health crisis. We consider the political consequences of loneliness. We propose that feelings of loneliness have effects in politics that are distinctive from those associated with having limited social ties. Rather than contributing to political withdrawal, we expect that feelings of loneliness will be associated with a greater likelihood of engaging in politics. We use survey data from the 2020 ANES-GSS joint study as well as the 2024 Cooperative Election Study to explore the relationship between loneliness and political engagement. Our findings suggest that the political world serves as an outlet for lonely people who crave greater social connections. People who feel greater loneliness are more likely to participate in politics.
Jennifer Wolak is a professor of political science at Michigan State University. She studies American political behavior, with a particular focus on political psychology, public opinion, state politics, and gender.
Audience: Open to all- including community members, alumni, students, and employees