Does civic participation benefit young people's mental well-being?
Civic participation is a way for people to address social issues and influence public decision-making. For this reason, young people's involvement in civic activities is often viewed positively, as it ensures that their voices are heard in society, strengthens their social relationships and networks, and reinforces their sense of identity, purpose, and self-confidence. However, research findings still disagree on how participation in civic activities affects the personal well-being of young people in the long term. Therefore, our INPSY members Honza Šerek and Michal Mužík decided to conduct longitudinal research with a diverse sample of young people to assess how civic engagement affects their mental well-being and how this relationship evolves over time.
