Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Preparing to Participate: The Role of Youth Social Responsibility and Political Efficacy on Civic Engagement for Black Early Adolescents

  • Published:
Child Indicators Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Civic engagement is critical for the well-being of youth and society. Scholars posit that civic beliefs are highly indicative of sustained civic engagement, particularly for Black youth living in the United States. In this study, I examine whether youth social responsibility and political efficacy beliefs are directly related to civic engagement and whether the relationship between youth social responsibility and civic outcomes varies by level of political efficacy among Black early adolescents in the Midwest United States (N = 118). I also investigate whether youth social responsibility relates to civic engagement through political efficacy beliefs among this population. Findings show that political efficacy is related to four domains of civic engagement: 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 Black youth with higher political efficacy beliefs. There is also an indirect effect of youth social responsibility on the relationship between political efficacy and civic engagement.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

Notes

  1. A Charter School is a publicly funded school that makes autonomous decisions with regard to curriculum and governance.

References

  • Adler, R. (2005). What do we mean by “civic engagement”? Journal of Transformative Education, 3(3), 236–253.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Aiken, L., & West, S. (1991). Multiple regression: testing and interpreting interactions. Newbury Park: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Astuto, J., & Ruck, M. (2010). Early childhood as a foundation for civic engagement. In L. Sherrod, J. Torney-Purta, & C. Flanagan (Eds.), Handbook of research on civic engagement in youth (pp. 249–276). Hoboken: Wiley.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Bandura, A. (2001). Social cognitive theory: an agentic perspective. Annual Review of Psychology, 52(1), 1–26.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baron, R., & Kenny, D. (1986). The moderator-mediator variable distinction in social psychological research: conceptual, strategic, and statistical considerations. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 51(6), 1173–1182.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Beaumont, E. (2010). Political agency and empowerment: pathways for developing a sense of political efficacy in young adults. In L. Sherrod, J. Torney-Purta, & C. Flanagan (Eds.), Handbook of research on civic engagement in youth (pp. 525–558). Hoboken: Wiley.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Checkoway, B., Allison, T., & Montoya, C. (2005). Youth participation in public policy at the municipal level. Children and Youth Services Review, 27(10), 1149–1162. doi:10.1016/j.childyouth.2005.01.001.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Christens, B. (2012). Targeting empowerment in community development: a community psychology approach to enhancing local power and well-being. Community Development Journal, 47(4), 538–554. doi:10.1093/cdj/bss031.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Christens, B., & Peterson, N. (2012). The role of empowerment in youth development: a study of sociopolitical control as mediator of ecological systems’ influence on developmental outcomes. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 41(5), 623–635. doi:10.1007/s10964-011-9724-9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Christens, B., Peterson, N., & Speer, P. (2011). Community participation and psychological empowerment: testing reciprocal causality using a cross-lagged panel design and latent constructs. Health Education & Behavior, 38(4), 339–347. doi:10.1177/1090198110372880.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cohen, C. (2005). Democracy remixed: black youth and the future of american politics. New York: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cohen, C. (2006). Black youth culture survey. Chicago: Black Youth Project. Data set accessed [2009] at http://www.blackyouthproject.com.

  • Crocetti, E., Jahromi, P., & Meeus, W. (2012). Identity and civic engagement in adolescence. Journal of Adolescence, 35, 521–532. doi:10.1016/j.adolescece.2011.08.003.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Diemer, M. A., & Li, C.-H. (2011). Critical consciousness development and political participation among marginalized youth. Child Development, 82(6), 1815–1833. doi:10.1111/j.1467-8624.2011.01650.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eckstein, K., Noack, P., & Gniewosz, B. (2012). Attitudes toward political engagement and willingness to participate in politics: trajectories throughout adolescence. Journal of Adolescence, 35(3), 485–495. doi:10.1016/j.adolescence.2011.07.002.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ekman, J., & Amnå, E. (2012). Political participation and civic engagement: towards a new typology. Human Affairs, 22(3), 283–300.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fine, M., Burns, A., Payne, Y., & Torre, M. (2004). Civic lessons: the color and class of betrayal. Teachers College Record, 106(11), 2193–2223.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Finlay, A. K., Wray-Lake, L., & Flanagan, C. A. (2010). Civic engagement during the transition to adulthood: developmental opportunities and social policies at a critical juncture. In L. R. Sherrod & J. Torney-Purta (Eds.), Handbook of research on civic engagement in youth (pp. 277–305). Hoboken: Wiley.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Flanagan, C. (2013). Teenage citizens: the political theories of the young. Cambridge: Harvard University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Flanagan, C., Beyers, W., & Žukauskienė, R. (2012). Political and civic engagement development in adolescence. Journal of Adolescence, 35(3), 471–473. doi:10.1016/j.adolescence.2012.04.010.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Freire, P. (1970). Pedagogy of the oppressed. New York: Continuum Publishing Co.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gallay, L. (2006). Social responsibility. In L. Sherrod, C. Flanagan, R. Kassimir, & A. Syvertsen (Eds.), Youth activism: an international encyclopedia (pp. 599–602). Westport: Greenwood Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ginwright, S. (2010). Black youth rising: activism and radical healing in urban America. New York: Teacher’s College Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ginwright, S., & James, T. (2002). From assets to agents of change: social justice, organizing, and youth development. In B. Kirshner, J. O’Donoghue, & M. McLaughlin (Eds.), Youth participation: improving institutions and communities (pp. 27–46). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

    Google Scholar 

  • Graham, J. (2012). Missing data: analysis and design. New York: Springer.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Gurin, P., Nagda, B., & Zuniga, X. (2013). Dialogue across difference: practice, theory, and research on intergroup dialogue. New York: Sage Foundation.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hahn. (1998). Becoming political: comparative perspectives on citizenship education. New York: University of New York Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hart, D., Donnelly, T. M., Youniss, J., & Atkins, R. (2007). High school community service as a predictor of adult voting and volunteering. American Educational Research Journal, 44(1), 197–219.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hoffman, L., & Thompson, T. (2009). The effect of television viewing on adolescents’ civic participation: political efficacy as a mediating mechanism. Journal of Broadcasting and Electronic Media, 53(1), 3–21. doi:10.1080/08828150802643415.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hope, E., & Jagers, R. (2014). The role of sociopolitical attitudes and civic education in the civic engagement of black youth. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 24(3), 460–470. doi:10.1111/jora.12117.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hope, E., Skoog, A., & Jagers, R. (2014). “It’ll never be the white kids, it’ll always be us”: black high school students’ evolving critical analysis of racial discrimination and inequity in schools. Journal of Adolescent Research, 30(1), 83–112. doi:10.1177/0743558414550688.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lerner, R. (2004). Liberty: thriving and civic engagement among America’s youth. Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications.

    Google Scholar 

  • Levinson, M. (2007). The civic achievement gap (CIRCLE working paper 51). College Park: Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement.

    Google Scholar 

  • Martínez, M. L., Peñaloza, P., & Valenzuela, C. (2012). Civic commitment in young activists: emergent processes in the development of personal and collective identity. Journal of Adolescence, 35(3), 474–484. doi:10.1016/j.adolescence.2011.11.006.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McGuire, J., & Gamble, W. (2006). Community service for youth: the value of psychological engagement over number of hours spent. Journal of Adolescence, 29, 289–298. doi:10.1016/j.adolescence.2005.07.006.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Metzger, A., & Smetana, J. (2010). Social cognitive development and adolescent civic engagement. In L. Sherrod, J. Torney-Purta, & C. Flanagan (Eds.), Handbook of research on civic engagement in youth (pp. 221–248). Hoboken: Wiley.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Mitra, D. L., & Serriere, S. C. (2012). Student voice in elementary school reform: examining youth development in fifth graders. American Educational Research Journal, 49(4), 743–774. doi:10.3102/0002831212443079.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mohiyeddini, C., & Montada, L. (1998). Beliefs in a just world and self-efficacy in coping with observed victimization: results from a study about unemployment. In L. Montada & M. Lerner (Eds.), Responses to victimizations and belief in a just world (pp. 41–54). New York: Plenum Press.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Morrell, M. (2003). Survey and experimental evidence for a reliable and valid measure of internal political efficacy. Public Opinion Quarterly, 67(4), 589–602.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • National Center for Education Statistics. (2011). The nation’s report card: civics 2010 (NCES 2011–466). Washington: Institute of Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Education.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pancer, S., Pratt, M., Hunsberger, B., & Alisat, S. (2007). Community and political involvement in adolescence: what distinguishes the activists from the uninvolved? Journal of Community Psychology, 35, 741–759.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rappaport, J. (1987). Terms of empowerment/exemplars of prevention: toward a theory for community psychology. American Journal of Community Psychology, 15(2), 121–148.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reinders, H., & Youniss, J. (2006). School-based required community service and civic development in adolescents. Applied Developmental Science, 10(1), 2–12. doi:10.1207/s1532480xads1001_1.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schmid, C. (2012). The value “social responsibility’as a motivating factor for adolescents” readiness to participate in different types of political actions, and its socialization in parent and peer contexts. Journal of Adolescence, 35(3), 533–547. doi:10.1016/j.adolescence.2012.03.009.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sherrod, L. R. (2003). Promoting the development of citizenship in diverse youth. Political Science and Politics, 36(02), 287–292.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sherrod, L., & Lauckhardt, J. (2008). The development of citizenship. In R. Lerner & L. Steinberg (Eds.), Handbook of adolescent psychology (3rd ed., Vol. 2, pp. 372–408). Hoboken: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sherrod, L., Torney-Purta, J., & Flanagan, C. (2010). Research on the development of citizenship: a field comes of age. In L. Sherrod, J. Torney-Purta, & C. Flanagan (Eds.), Handbook of research on civic engagement in youth (pp. 1–22). Hoboken: Wiley.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Vela, H. (2013). Takoma Park lowers voting age to 16. ABC7 WJLA. Retrieved from http://www.wjla.com.

  • Watts, R. J., & Flanagan, C. A. (2007). Pushing the envelope on youth civic engagement: a developmental and liberation psychology perspective. Journal of Community Psychology, 35(6), 779–792. doi:10.1002/jcop.20178.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Watts, R., & Guessous, O. (2006). Sociopolitical development: the missing link in research and policy on adolescents. In S. Ginwright, P. Noguera, & J. Cammarota (Eds.), Beyond resistance! youth activism and community change: new democratic possibilities for practice and policy for America’s youth. New York: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Watts, R. J., Williams, N. C., & Jagers, R. J. (2003). Sociopolitical development. American Journal of Community Psychology, 31(1), 185–194.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Watts, R. J., Diemer, M. A., & Voight, A. M. (2011). Critical consciousness: current status and future directions. In C. A. Flanagan & B. D. Christens (Eds.), Youth civic development: work at the cutting edge (Vol. 134). San Francisco: Josey-Bass.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wentzel, K., Filisetti, L., & Looney, L. (2007). Adolescent prosocial behavior: the role of self-processes and contextual cues. Child Development, 78(3), 895–910.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wray-Lake, L., & Syvertsen, A. (2011). The developmental roots of social responsibility in childhood and adolescence. In C. A. Flanagan & B. D. Christens (Eds.), Youth civic development: work at the cutting edge (Vol. 134). San Francisco: Josey-Bass.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yates, M., & Youniss, J. (1996). A developmental perspective on community service in adolescence. Social Development, 5(1), 85–111.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Youniss, J., Bales, S., Christmas-Best, V., Diversi, M., McLaughlin, W., & Silbereisen, R. (2002). Youth civic engagement in the twenty-first century. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 12(1), 121–148.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zaff, J., Kawashima-Ginsberg, K., Lin, E., Lamb, M., Balsano, A., & Lerner, R. (2011). Journal of Adolescence, 34(6), 1207–1220. doi:10.1016/j.adolescence.2011.07.005.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zimmerman, M. A. (1995). Psychological empowerment: issues and illustrations. American Journal of Community Psychology, 23(5), 581–599.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zimmerman, M. A., Ramirez-Valles, J., & Maton, K. I. (1999). Resilience among urban African american male adolescents: a study of the protective effects of sociopolitical control on their mental health. American Journal of Community Psychology, 27(6), 733–751.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, North Carolina State University, 2310 Stinson Drive, Raleigh, NC, 27695-7650, USA

    Elan C. Hope

Authors
  1. Elan C. Hope
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Elan C. Hope.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Hope, E.C. Preparing to Participate: The Role of Youth Social Responsibility and Political Efficacy on Civic Engagement for Black Early Adolescents. Child Ind Res 9, 609–630 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12187-015-9331-5

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12187-015-9331-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation