Over the last 30 years, research has suggested a decline in young peoples’ civic engagement. Psychologists are urging that this isn’t the case and want to expand the definition of civic participation.

A study published in the Journal of Community Psychology proposes there’s more than one form of civic engagement and a person’s sociodemographic factors push them toward a certain type of behavior over another.

“There are a wide variety of ways people can be civically engaged and they’re all critical for democracy,” said Twyla Blackmond Larnell, an associate professor of political science at Loyola University Chicago.

Researchers suggest that there are three forms of civic participation. These forms are categorized as traditional, community-based and outside engagement.

Traditional forms of civic engagement consist of things like voting or contacting a representative. Community-based participation revolves around volunteering or being involved with a community organization. Outside engagement relates to things like direct activism and social movement involvement, for example protesting.

“Holistically exploring the multitude of ways young people are civically engaged is critical to understanding the many societal contributions young people make,” according to the researchers. 

To study what factors contributed to different types of civic engagement they looked at four different demographic trends. Race/ethnicity, socioeconomic position, gender, and sexual orientation.

Researchers also looked at three civic-related beliefs. They were critical reflection, critical motivation, and critical action.

Critical reflection is the awareness of oppression that perpetuate social injustices. Critical motivation is the belief in one’s own abilities and engagement in efforts to promote social change. Critical action is behavioral activities geared toward promoting social change.

Research found that women reported significantly higher scores across the board. They were more likely to engage in system-challenging civic behaviors like activism and volunteering. Women reported a higher participation in traditional political behaviors, like voting, as well.

“Women still have a bone to pick with policy makers,” Blackmond Larnell said.

She explained that women have been engaged in politics for some time, they have historically run the household and have participated in many forms of civic engagement including activism and volunteering.

Blackmond Larnell suggests that women today participate at higher rates because they are still underrepresented in government.

The study also found that Black, Indigenous, and other Youth of Color had higher scores of critical reflection. They were three times more likely to vote as compared to white participants and reported higher levels of activism and civic behavior.

This didn’t surprise Yuna Blajer, an assistant professor of political science at Loyola University Chicago. She explained that throughout history marginalized groups have tended to take part in civic engagement across the board.

“People who have more to lose vote more,” Blajer said.

Researchers also noticed that LGBTQ+ participants reported more engagement in the civic behavior of activism as compared to heterosexual participants. The LGBTQ+ community is still a marginalized group which makes sense as to why they participate more in system challenging forms of civic engagement.

The study also found that participants from a background of higher socioeconomic positions, meaning a household income greater than $100,000, were less likely to engage in activism.

“People that belong to a pre-secured community tend to not challenge their status,” Blajer said.

She explained that there’s a “certain privilege to not caring.” People are less likely to challenge a system that they are benefiting from.

“The wealthier you are, the more traditional types of engagement you participate in,” Blackmond Larnell said.

To people with a lower income time is a big factor, according to Blackmond Larnell. People with a higher income can afford to donate more money and spend less time engaging civically. People with a lower income don’t have the money to spend and instead donate their time. Leading to higher rates of community engagement.

Women and Black, Indigenous, and other Youth of Color tended to report higher participation in community-based civic engagement as compared to men and participants who identified as white.

“Historically, people in these marginalized groups feel as if their vote doesn’t matter,” said Blackmond Larnell. “They felt like they can’t rely on traditional systems so lean more on working with their neighbors.”

Black, Indigenous, and other Youth of Color and LGBQ+ had a strong association with system-challenging civic behaviors.

Researchers found that people whose sociodemographic personalities have faced ongoing oppression are more likely to engage in community-based and outside civic engagement. Meaning that they are more likely to volunteer and participate in activist roles.

Young people’s civic participation has not dwindled, it’s just diversified into multiple forms. The implications of the study suggest that the role of demographic factors, whether oppressive of privileging, can be associated with different types of civic participation.

“Taking these findings into consideration, college campuses could provide opportunities to foster young people’s civic knowledge and participation,” research says.