A comparison of general and age-specific factors associated with political behavior.

Sociological research has focused on relationships between status, participation, efficacy, and political behavior with less attention to the influence of discontinuty in life circumstances on political activity. In contrast, gerontologists have explored the implications of age-specific and life change factors for political orientations but conflicting hypotheses have been derived. On suggests that discontinuity will decrease political activity while the other contends that discontinuity will politicize individuals. This study compares the relative contribution of life change and age-specific factors, demographic characteristics, and efficacy to voting and political interest. Data were collected by personal interviews with a random sample of 169 men and women 65 or over. Voting and political interest had somewhat different antecedents, but participation in multi-age groups and efficacy increased both while age-graded participation decreased political activity. Discontinuity, in general. had less effect on political behavior than demographic characteristics and efficacy.