In the humanities and social sciences literature, we have seen extensive studies covering different forms and typologies of civic or political (non-)participation, and the roles of diverse actors such as young people, adults, those that are vulnerable, as well as marginalized people. While civic and political participation are generally considered as beneficial for individuals, communities and the wider society, both negative and positive effects at the psychosocial level have been highlighted. For example, civic and political activity may offer youth opportunities that foster community belonging, empowerment, or democratic attitudes such as tolerance, support for civil rights, and social and institutional trust. However, superficial participative experiences may not have the desired effects and can even be detrimental for youth’s well-being, leading to disempowerment, or resulting in a membership in intolerant or non-democratic groups. According to an ecological approach, young people are nested in a multisystemic framework and their participation is shaped through interactions between young people’s individual characteristics and multiple developmental contexts.
This Research Topic is aimed at providing insights into the conditions under which youth civic and political participation does or does not foster positive individual or society level psychosocial outcomes. In other words, and with consideration to both individual and collective consequences, this Topic aims to investigate when and how participation (volunteering, political or consumer activism, party involvement, etc.) facilitates democratic, tolerant and inclusive attitudes, perceptions or contextual characteristics.
In this Research Topic, we welcome contributions that explore the effects of civic engagement and political participation among youth. We are interested in empirical research that aims at understanding processes through which youth participation affects outcomes such as attitudes towards equality and social justice, tolerance, trust, identity and intra and/or inter-group dynamics. We urge contributors to consider not only positive, but also negative or non-existent effects associated with participation. We welcome multiple approaches or their combinations to be employed so as to account for a complex network of effects proposed by the multisystemic framework. In addition, we welcome studies assessing practical interventions in the area of youth participation, aiming to explain why these interventions have succeeded or failed. Overall, original research papers employing qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods research designs are welcomed, as well as papers discussing and suggesting research-based institutional guidelines and policies.
In the humanities and social sciences literature, we have seen extensive studies covering different forms and typologies of civic or political (non-)participation, and the roles of diverse actors such as young people, adults, those that are vulnerable, as well as marginalized people. While civic and political participation are generally considered as beneficial for individuals, communities and the wider society, both negative and positive effects at the psychosocial level have been highlighted. For example, civic and political activity may offer youth opportunities that foster community belonging, empowerment, or democratic attitudes such as tolerance, support for civil rights, and social and institutional trust. However, superficial participative experiences may not have the desired effects and can even be detrimental for youth’s well-being, leading to disempowerment, or resulting in a membership in intolerant or non-democratic groups. According to an ecological approach, young people are nested in a multisystemic framework and their participation is shaped through interactions between young people’s individual characteristics and multiple developmental contexts.
This Research Topic is aimed at providing insights into the conditions under which youth civic and political participation does or does not foster positive individual or society level psychosocial outcomes. In other words, and with consideration to both individual and collective consequences, this Topic aims to investigate when and how participation (volunteering, political or consumer activism, party involvement, etc.) facilitates democratic, tolerant and inclusive attitudes, perceptions or contextual characteristics.
In this Research Topic, we welcome contributions that explore the effects of civic engagement and political participation among youth. We are interested in empirical research that aims at understanding processes through which youth participation affects outcomes such as attitudes towards equality and social justice, tolerance, trust, identity and intra and/or inter-group dynamics. We urge contributors to consider not only positive, but also negative or non-existent effects associated with participation. We welcome multiple approaches or their combinations to be employed so as to account for a complex network of effects proposed by the multisystemic framework. In addition, we welcome studies assessing practical interventions in the area of youth participation, aiming to explain why these interventions have succeeded or failed. Overall, original research papers employing qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods research designs are welcomed, as well as papers discussing and suggesting research-based institutional guidelines and policies.