Political Involvement in the Later Years: A Longitudinal Survey

Three main perspectives have been developed about the political involvement of aging citizens. Disengagement theory suggests declining participation; selective withdrawal points toward ageappropriate emphases, including augmentation; and cohort composition theory posits lower participation among the old as a consequence of their having fewer political resources. These perspectives were explored using a three-wave, 17-year panel study of American adults who aged, on average, from 53 to 70 during the study period. With cohort deprivation ruled out by the panel design and period effects controlled for statistically, effects of aging on participation remained. Although the more passive forms of political involvement remained rather steady, participation in the more demanding modes declined following the transition to old age. Those declines were partly offset by increased involvement of the elderly in age-appropriate activities that can have direct political consequences.