Political interest is key to explaining democratic outcomes such as political knowledge and participation, and its development has been particularly studied in the context of socialization processes during adolescence. Building on a theory of expression effects, this study highlights the relationship between political discussion and political interest among individuals age 15 and above. Based on a seven-year panel study in Norway ( n = 10,695), we estimate the effects of political discussion on interest in politics and assess whether they are contingent on age. We find that as people discuss politics more, their political interest increases over time. These effects are strongest among young adults but remain important through adulthood, only disappearing at retirement age. Our findings expand knowledge about how different political experiences may shape political attitudes and opens new avenues for the study of fluctuations and inequalities in political engagement.
Steen-Johnsen et al. (Sun,) studied this question.