Predictors of intentions to participate in politics and actual political behaviors in young adulthood

Eckstein, Katharina; Noack, Peter und Gniewosz, Burkhard (September 2013): Predictors of intentions to participate in politics and actual political behaviors in young adulthood. In: International Journal of Behavioral Development, Bd. 37, Nr. 5: S. 428-435

Abstract

Drawing on data from a three-wave longitudinal study, the present research examined predictors of young adults' intentions to participate in politics and their actual political activities while referring to the broader assumptions of the theory of planned behavior. The analyses were based on a sample of university students from the federal state of Thuringia, Germany. The results showed that attitudes toward political behaviors and internal political efficacy beliefs explained changes in students' intentions to participate in politics. However, the perceived meaning that political participation has for important others had no additional effect. Furthermore, students' intentions to participate in politics and their internal political efficacy beliefs predicted changes in their actual behaviors. Together, the findings supported the theory of planned behaviors as a useful framework helping to predict young adults' intentions and actual involvement in political activities.

• Dokumententyp: Zeitschriftenartikel
• Publikationsform: Publisher's Version
• Keywords: internal political efficacy; political behaviors; political participation; theory of planned behaviors; young adulthood; young people
• Fakultät: Psychologie und Pädagogik > Department Pädagogik und Rehabilitation
• Themengebiete: 300 Sozialwissenschaften > 300 Sozialwissenschaft, Soziologie
• ISSN: 0165-0254
• Allianz-/Nationallizenz: Dieser Beitrag ist mit Zustimmung des Rechteinhabers aufgrund einer (DFG-geförderten) Allianz- bzw. Nationallizenz frei zugänglich.
• Sprache: Englisch