Young, engaged and happy? How civic engagement affects mental wellbeing

The civic engagement of young people is important for the development of democratic functioning of society. It includes volunteering, pro-social activities, online activism, political protest and electoral participation. However, these activities can also be beneficial for the psychosocial development of young people. Involvement in civic life can give them valuable experience, strengthen their voice in society and thus have a positive impact on their mental well-being.

The systematic review of Michal Mužík, Jan Šerek, and Dana Seryjová Juhová from INPSY mapped 35 empirical studies that examined the effects of different forms of civic engagement on young people's well-being. The research team investigated whether these effects are the same for all aspects of mental well-being or whether they vary across its psychological, social, and emotional dimensions.

• Psychological: Related to feelings of meaningfulness, self-worth, and autonomy.
• Social: Related to social relationships, sense of belonging, and social support.
• Emotional: Involves subjective evaluation of life, happiness, and satisfaction.

The research sample consisted of adolescents and younger adults, mainly from North America and Western Europe. The results showed that the effect of civic engagement varied depending on the dimensions of mental well-being examined.

Pro-social activities

The study suggests that volunteering and other pro-social activities have a predominantly positive impact on the psychological and social dimensions of young people's well-being. The positive effect stems from the fact that social engagement often produces visible results. It also involves participation in groups, which fosters a sense of belonging, social support and a positive social identity. Helping others and engaging in charitable activities that have a positive impact on the environment contribute to higher self-esteem, which promotes psychological well-being.

Protest actions

The resulting effects of protest actions are mixed. Positive effects are seen when these actions concern personal issues or are linked to an individual's identity. In such cases, the likelihood of involvement increases. The group nature of the action can create a sense of protection. However, these effects may lose their power if the protest is too risky, violent or prolonged. Subjective perceptions of risk are also key. If personal motivation for civic engagement is lacking, young people may face overload or burnout.

Online environment

Also, the effects of online engagement are not consistent. On the one hand, online engagement can promote psychological well-being, allowing people to express their views and connect with like-minded individuals relatively easily. On the other hand, the online environment also carries the risk of conflict, which can be particularly challenging for people from minority groups. This would suggest that online engagement does not serve as a protective factor against discrimination. However, the conclusions require further research.

Life satisfaction

Although civic engagement can improve some aspects of mental well-being, such as self-worth or sense of belonging, it cannot be unequivocally claimed to increase happiness or life satisfaction, the emotional dimension of well-being. Many factors influence young people's wellbeing, and civic engagement is only one of them. Research also shows that emotional well-being predicts civic engagement rather than functioning as a consequence of it. In fact, happier and more satisfied people are more likely to engage.

The study suggests that social engagement has a predominantly positive effect on young people's psychological and social well-being, while the effects of protest actions and online engagement are mixed. The authors' team encourages research focused on specific contexts and conditions. Understanding them could contribute to a better understanding of the cultural and political factors that may influence the field of civic participation.

Recommended citation:

Mužík, M., Šerek, J. & Seryjová Juhová, D. (2024). The Effect of Civic Engagement on Different Dimensions of Well-Being in Youth: A Scoping Review. Adolescent Research Review. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40894-024-00239-x

Translated using DeepL.