Patterns in Civic Engagement and Health Among Diverse Adolescent Students

This article examines patterns in civic engagement and health among U.S. adolescents currently enrolled in school. Adolescents engage in multiple forms of civic action (e.g., civic discussions, volunteering, and political activities) and form varied civic attitudes and skills, which, in turn, may shape their health and well-being. Further, such associations between civic engagement and health may be differentially influenced by students' social locations (e.g., socioeconomic position, race and ethnicity, and gender). The authors examined associations between civic engagement (behaviors, attitudes, and skills) and health (physical, mental, and well-being) and how these associations varied among four race-gender subgroups in the United States. Survey data from 1,286 adolescent students in grades 6-12 (average age = 14.56) were collected between fall 2021 and spring 2025. Analyses revealed that main effects for the full sample obscure distinct patterns of associations between civic engagement and health among subgroups. For example, there were more positive associations between components of civic engagement and health outcomes for both girl/transgender and gender-diverse subgroups (White and students of color) compared to boy subgroups, and political participation and civic discussions showed more negative associations with health outcomes for the boy and girl/TGD students of color subgroups compared to White subgroups. Sense of community was positively associated with health outcomes for all subgroups. Practitioners promoting civic health equity should consider different aspects of civic engagement, and programs are needed that are responsive to variations in the associations between civic engagement and health at different intersections of race/ethnicity and gender.