Civic attitudes and engagement
The theme of civic attitudes and engagement is part of the research of Youth Studies and is divided into three sub-themes:
Subtheme 1: Political Attitudes and Participation
As young people will shape the political landscape of the future, it is vital to understand their political attitudes and participation in civic life. We investigate therefore youth engagement in political processes and their support for different political parties and political ideologies. We also examine the extent to which this correlates with the trust they do or do not have in institutions, their views on social justice and (in)equality, and how they respond to disinformation.
Subtheme 2: Culture, diversity and ethnic relations
Young people are growing up in a globalised world in which societies are increasingly culturally diverse. We investigate youth’s attitudes towards ethno-cultural and racial diversity and inequality and how this shapes their relationships with other groups. We also study how cultural norms and values shape young people’s development, attitudes and behaviours.
Subtheme 3: The Climate Crisis
Young people across the globe are increasingly worried about climate change. We study the ways in which youth cognitively and emotionally respond to the climate crisis and how this relates to their pro-environmental engagement and mental health. We also focus on the development of climate-related cognitions and emotions over the course of adolescence and in young adulthood.
Examples of research
Youth CLIMATE Research on developmental dynamics of climate related emotions among youth.
CONCILIARE Research on how young Europeans think about changes in colonial heritage.
YOUth Got Talent How do young people see their future?
