Self-efficacy beliefs and young people's political participation

Political efficacy is one of the strongest predictors of adults’ political participation, but it has been less studied among young people. General self-efficacy has been considered a possible causal factor for young people to engage in politics. These constructs, in addition to young people’s participation in the so called “social media revolutions” (SMR), an Internet phenomenon in Iceland, were examined. An online survey was posted on social media and emailed to students at a large university in Iceland. A total of 459 participants (60.7% female, 39.3% male) between the ages of 18 and 31 (M = 23.9, SD = 3.5) completed the survey. Both general and political efficacy were associated with political participation, but mediation analysis reviled that the relationship between general self-efficacy and political participation was mediated through political efficacy. Logistic regression analysis showed that political efficacy predicted SMR-participation, but general self-efficacy did not. Furthermore, SMR- participants participated more actively in politics than did non-participants. The results underline the importance of political efficacy for political participation among young people, but indicate that the effects of general self-efficacy are minimal.

Author dc:creator

• Bjarki Þór Grönfeldt 1994-

Contributors dc:contributor

• Háskólinn í Reykjavík

• Sálfræði
• Sjálfstraust
• Stjórnmálaþátttaka
• Ungt fólk
• Psychology
• Self-efficacy
• Political participation
• Young adults

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1946/25650

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:skemman.is:1946/25650