Civic engagement and well‐being among noncollege young adults: Investigating a mediation model

• Published in: Journal of community psychology Vol. 51; no. 7; pp. 2667 - 2685
• Main Authors: Fenn, Natalie, Yang, Manshu, Pearson‐Merkowitz, Shanna, Robbins, Mark
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.09.2023
• Subjects: Activism; Citizen participation; civic efficacy; civic engagement; Coping strategies; Female; Health education; Health needs; health promotion; Humans; Male; meaning in life; Mediation; Mental Health; noncollege young adults; Surveys and Questionnaires; well‐being; Young Adult; Young adults; civic engagement; well-being; civic efficacy; mental health; health promotion; noncollege young adults; meaning in life
• ISSN: 0090-4392; 1520-6629; 1520-6629
• DOI: 10.1002/jcop.23033

Young adults may benefit from civic engagement as a health promotion tool, as civic engagement is generally associated with positive well‐being. However, more information is needed to examine civic engagement among lesser‐educated young adults who are least likely to civically engage, and more likely to demonstrate mental health needs. We surveyed noncollege young adults (N = 621) to measure their civic engagement, meaning, civic efficacy, well‐being, and sociodemographic factors. Using an a priori model, direct, indirect, and full effects path analyses were conducted across men and women, and then the entire sample. The full effects model best fit the data with mediation by civic efficacy and meaning (χ2(2) = 0.59, p = 0.74; comparative fit index = 1.0; root mean square error of approximation = 0.00, 90% confidence interval [0.00–0.06]; R2 = 0.42). Types of engagement (civic, electoral, activism, and online) demonstrated differing relationships with well‐being. Stakeholders should resource young adults with civic skills and coping strategies to address the many challenges that civic experiences often elicit.