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Civic Engagement and Well-Being: Examining a Mediational Model Across Gender
Natalie Fenn1, Mark L Robbins1, Lisa Harlow1
1Department of Psychology, 4260University of Rhode Island, Chafee Hall, Kingston, RI, USA.
American Journal of Health Promotion : AJHP
|March 19, 2021
Summary
Civic engagement positively impacts young adult well-being, particularly through service self-efficacy and meaning in life. Further research is needed in diverse populations to confirm its health promotion potential.
Area of Science:
- Social Sciences
- Psychology
- Public Health
Background:
- Civic engagement generally correlates positively with mental health.
- This relationship is complex for low socioeconomic groups and women.
- Understanding these pathways is crucial for health promotion strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the pathways between civic engagement and well-being in young adults.
- To clarify the role of civic engagement as a health promotional tool.
- To investigate mediating factors such as self-efficacy and meaning in life.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional online questionnaire administered to 438 university students.
- Data collected on demographics, socioeconomic status, civic engagement, well-being, meaning in life, service self-efficacy, and social support.
- Structural equation modeling used to test the proposed model.
Main Results:
- The model demonstrated a positive relationship between civic engagement and well-being for both men and women.
- Service self-efficacy and meaning in life significantly mediated this relationship.
- Different types of engagement (civic, electoral, sociopolitical) yielded mixed results.
Conclusions:
- Civic activity enhances well-being through service self-efficacy.
- Sociopolitical engagement is linked to well-being via meaning in life.
- Longitudinal studies with diverse socioeconomic populations are recommended to validate findings.
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