Voting linked to lower mortality risk in older adults over 15 years
A University of Pennsylvania study links voting to a lower risk of death in older adults up to 15 years later. We explain what it measures and what it doesn't.
English · Original discussion in Spanish · Published
A University of Pennsylvania study found that older adults who voted in the 2008 presidential elections had a lower risk of mortality over the trinc five, ten and fifteen years. The effect held even when their candidate lost and was greater among those in poorer health.
Some gestures seem to serve no purpose and yet leave a mark. Casting a ballot is one of them. An individual vote doesn't decide a national election, and the person casting it knows that. In practical terms, it's an altruistic act: it takes time, sometimes a queue, and the outcome doesn't change with one more or fewer ballot. Now, a study from the School of Social Policy & Practice at the **University of Pennsylvania** has found something that goes beyond politics: those who voted lived longer.
## What the study found and who it trinc
The research, published in the *Journal of Gerontology: Psychological Studies*, trinc older adults who voted in the **2008** presidential elections and those who didn't. It compared their risk of death at five, ten and fifteen years. Those who went to the polls showed a significant reduction in mortality across all three timeframes. The benefit was greater among participants with poorer initial health, precisely those with the most to gain.
Co-author **Femida Handy**, of the University of Pennsylvania, signed the work alongside **Sara Konrath**, of Indiana University. Handy explained that the association held even when the supported candidate lost. Voting itself seemed to matter more than the outcome.
## Neither wealth nor education explain the difference
The finding withstands the usual controls. It isn't explained by prior wealth, education level, other forms of civic participation or the participants' political affiliation. Nor by method: those who voted in person and those who voted by mail showed similar benefits.
This sets voting apart from other civic activities already studied, such as volunteering, which are associated with fewer cardiovascular diseases and better mental health. The novelty is that here the act is brief, sporadic and, on the face of it, with no effect on the outcome. Even so, the association appears.
## A finding with implications for participation policies
The fact that the effect is stronger among older adults in poorer health fifteen years later makes this finding relevant material for anyone designing voter turnout campaigns. Handy argues that these potential long-term benefits make the information crucial for encouraging voting.
It shouldn't be read as a prescription. This is an observational study: it shows association, not cause. Voting is no substitute for a doctor and guarantees nothing. If you have concerns about your health, consult a professional.
Some gestures seem to serve no purpose and yet leave a mark. Casting a ballot is one of them. An individual vote doesn't decide a national election, and the person casting it knows that. In practical terms, it's an altruistic act: it takes time, sometimes a queue, and the outcome doesn't change with one more or fewer ballot. Now, a study from the School of Social Policy & Practice at the **University of Pennsylvania** has found something that goes beyond politics: those who voted lived longer.
## What the study found and who it trinc
The research, published in the *Journal of Gerontology: Psychological Studies*, trinc older adults who voted in the **2008** presidential elections and those who didn't. It compared their risk of death at five, ten and fifteen years. Those who went to the polls showed a significant reduction in mortality across all three timeframes. The benefit was greater among participants with poorer initial health, precisely those with the most to gain.
Co-author **Femida Handy**, of the University of Pennsylvania, signed the work alongside **Sara Konrath**, of Indiana University. Handy explained that the association held even when the supported candidate lost. Voting itself seemed to matter more than the outcome.
## Neither wealth nor education explain the difference
The finding withstands the usual controls. It isn't explained by prior wealth, education level, other forms of civic participation or the participants' political affiliation. Nor by method: those who voted in person and those who voted by mail showed similar benefits.
This sets voting apart from other civic activities already studied, such as volunteering, which are associated with fewer cardiovascular diseases and better mental health. The novelty is that here the act is brief, sporadic and, on the face of it, with no effect on the outcome. Even so, the association appears.
## A finding with implications for participation policies
The fact that the effect is stronger among older adults in poorer health fifteen years later makes this finding relevant material for anyone designing voter turnout campaigns. Handy argues that these potential long-term benefits make the information crucial for encouraging voting.
It shouldn't be read as a prescription. This is an observational study: it shows association, not cause. Voting is no substitute for a doctor and guarantees nothing. If you have concerns about your health, consult a professional.
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Summary of a discussion on Burbuja.info - Foro de economía, actualidad y política., translated from Spanish and reviewed before publication. Read the full discussion (9 replies).
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