ERIC Number: EJ958271
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2007-Aug
Pages: 19
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0090-4392
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Community and Political Involvement in Adolescence: What Distinguishes the Activists from the Uninvolved?
Pancer, S. Mark; Pratt, Michael; Hunsberger, Bruce; Alisat, Susan
Journal of Community Psychology, v35 n6 p741-759 Aug 2007
What distinguishes adolescents who are active in community and political life from those who are not? In an attempt to answer this question, students in their last years of secondary school completed a measure of community and political activities, along with measures of parent and peer interactions, identity development, and adjustment. Cluster analysis of activities reported in the questionnaire identified 4 distinct groupings of adolescents: Activists (who had high levels of involvement in a wide range of political and community activities); Helpers (who were involved in helping individuals from their communities but not in political activities); Responders (who responded to but did not initiate helping or political activities); and Uninvolved adolescents. Comparisons revealed several differences among the groups in terms of parent and peer interactions, identity development, and adjustment, with the Activists and Helpers showing more frequent discussions with parents and peers, more advanced identity development, and better adjustment than the Responders and Uninvolved adolescents. Results are discussed with regard to the role that family and peers may play in fostering adolescents' community and political involvements and the relationship between involvement and the development of adolescent identity. (Contains 5 tables and 1 figure.)
Descriptors: Adolescents, Multivariate Analysis, Activism, Secondary School Students, Adjustment (to Environment), Adolescent Development, Personality Development, Peer Relationship, Parent Child Relationship, Questionnaires, Citizen Participation, Interviews, Student Participation, Foreign Countries, Political Attitudes, Community Programs
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Canada
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A