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

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