Towards an Understanding of Civic Engagement and Civic Commitment among Black Early Adolescents.

Civic Engagement;Early Adolescence;Black Youth;Sociopolitical Development;Political Efficacy;Political Science;Psychology;Social Sciences;Education & Psychology

Hope, Elan C.Diemer, Matthew A. ;

University of Michigan

关键词: Civic Engagement;    Early Adolescence;    Black Youth;    Sociopolitical Development;    Political Efficacy;    Political Science;    Psychology;    Social Sciences;    Education & Psychology;   

Others  :  https://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/handle/2027.42/100012/elancm_1.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y

瑞士|英语

来源: The Illinois Digital Environment for Access to Learning and Scholarship

【 摘 要 】

Civic engagement and civic commitment are important for individual and community well-being. In this dissertation, I explore critical analysis and political efficacy in relation to civic engagement and civic commitment among Black early adolescents. Scholars have suggested that these sociopolitical factors are highly indicative of sustained civic development, particularly for Black youth. As such, I investigated the relationships among critical analysis, political efficacy, and civic engagement among Black early adolescents. I tested whether critical analysis and political efficacy are directly related to civic engagement and civic commitment. I also examined whether the relationship between critical analysis and civic outcomes varies by level of political efficacy. Finally, I tested whether critical analysis is related to either civic engagement or civic commitment through political efficacy beliefs. Findings from a quantitative investigation of 118 Black early adolescents show that political efficacy is related to four domains of civic engagement and civic commitment: helping, community action, formal political action, and activism. Political efficacy moderates the relationship between youth social responsibility and activism, such that the relationship between youth social responsibility and activism is stronger for youth with higher political efficacy beliefs. There is also an indirect effect of youth social responsibility on the relationship between political efficacy and commitment to future activism. Further, through a qualitative investigation of 36 Black early adolescents, evidence suggests that Black youth are actively thinking about their sociopolitical environment in complex ways. Youth consider systemic and individual attributions for problems and solutions in their communities and schools. Moreover, these early adolescents consider their own role in constructing positive change (youth social responsibility) as well as barriers that prohibit youth engagement. Taken together, this research broadens our understanding of civic development through a snapshot of civic thought and civic engagement among Black early adolescents.