%0 Journal Article
%T Blood Donation across the Life Course: The Influence of Life Events on Donor Lapse
%A Eva-Maria Merz
%A Ren¨¦ Bekkers
%A Tjeerd W. Piersma
%A Wim de Kort
%J Journal of Health and Social Behavior
%@ 2150-6000
%D 2019
%R 10.1177/0022146519849893
%X This article examines how blood donation loyalty changes across the life course as a result of life events. Previous studies have shown that life events affect involvement in prosocial behavior, possibly as a result of loss of human and social capital. Using registry data from the blood collection agency in the Netherlands, linked to longitudinal survey data from the Donor InSight study (N = 20,560), we examined whether life events are related to blood donor lapse. Childbirth, losing a job, and starting a job increase the likelihood of donor lapse, while health-related events (i.e., blood transfusion in a family member, death of a family member) decrease the likelihood of donor lapse. Moreover, results showed how social and practical concerns explain donors¡¯ decisions to donate blood after the occurrence of life events. We discuss theoretical implications for further studies on prosocial and health-related behavior
%K blood donation
%K human capital
%K life events
%K prosocial behavior
%K social capital
%U https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0022146519849893