A Summary of Adolescent Civic Engagement Benefits

Being an involved citizen is a major part of society. From the beginning, structures have been established to intrigue people about their community. Over time, these basic structures have transformed into more elaborate political and social systems to regulate and inform individuals. No matter the system, though, a set of guidelines usually imposes limitations on adolescents. For example, “The minimum age to vote in national elections is 18 in all OECD countries except Austria (16) and Greece (17)”; for clarification, OECD stands for the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (“Reviewing minimum age requirements to vote…”). All things considered, while these rules and regulations may prevent all community participation, adolescents can still be involved in a wide range of civic activities, all of which are more beneficial than they may seem.

Before continuing, what is even the definition of civic engagement? At its core, according to Augusta University, civic engagement “...brings together a range of activities that help promote the well-being of communities and individuals” (“What is Civic Engagement”). Globally, people—local councils, presidents, prime ministers, and even ordinary civilians—are constantly finding, and trying to find, solutions to the world’s issues. What many of these people may not realize, though, is that this exploration for positive change is civic engagement at its finest. Additionally, civic engagement has subcategories due to the vast differences among the individuals who participate. That is why “working in a soup kitchen, serving on a neighborhood association, writing a letter to an elected official, or voting” are all ways to be civically engaged, according to the American Psychological Association (“Civic Engagement”). 

Now, as the previous paragraph emphasized, most people can be civically involved, even if age is a constraint. What was not highlighted previously, however, are the benefits of engaging in such actions. For adolescents, in particular, there are plenty of reasons to partake in civic activities. 

Foremost, civic engagement can positively influence adolescent behavior and mental health. During these foundational years, many things become more crucial than before: peer influences, school, and healthy routines are only three key examples. A big obstacle for adolescents is figuring out how to balance all of these things in a short period. For some individuals, this task is rather simple; however, that is not the case for everyone. Hence, finding ways to support these things is equally as crucial as the things themselves. Thankfully, civic engagement is a simple way to do so. As stated in a medical journal article titled “The Effect of Civic Engagement on Mental Health and Behaviors among Adolescents,” “Civic engagement promotes mental well-being by fostering social connections and providing a sense of purpose and belonging while reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression” (Eldin et al.). Mental well-being is necessary for adolescents, as this rapidly changing period can be filled with downsides. As discussed before, mechanisms to foster mental well-being vary; however, beyond fostering social connections and providing a healthy routine, civic engagement can also support essential mental growth.

Secondly, while also growing skills to support themselves, adolescents spend a lot of time discovering their identity, as it is a crucial component throughout life. This process is not straightforward, unfortunately, as it takes a massive amount of persistence and curiosity. Through identity exploration, unique transitions occur and “different roles, behaviors, and ideologies are explored,” which can influence various emotions, beliefs, and opinions (LINK). Civic engagement can influence and benefit this process. Specifically, according to an article titled “Developing Civic Identity Amongst Middle School Students in Northern Chicago,” “Civic engagement programs allow [adolescents] to develop confidence, passion, and a sense of responsibility toward their community” (Karwowski et.al.). This is extremely important for adolescent growth, as confidence, passion, and a sense of responsibility are all major components of identity, even if they are not explicitly labeled as such in the article.

Lastly, as adolescents will eventually age, becoming engaged citizens with the ability to vote, run for office, and make a bigger mark on the world earlier can set them up for a more successful civic adulthood. As before, many things influence the outcome of one's approach to civic adulthood; one major is social responsibility, or developing a strong “civic character.” Being socially responsible involves “caring about others, fairness, civility, teamwork, and doing what’s right for the community” (“Civic Engagement for Students”). In adolescence, unique skills develop through a combination of personal growth and external influences; becoming socially responsible is one of these skills. To mature this attribute, though, becoming civically engaged at a younger age, listening to discussions about developing this skill, and continuing to participate over a long period are a few ways to do so. In the end, though, why are these traits all dire for the future? Well, as an adult has the power to vote in many countries, being aware of one’s decisions and their impact is crucial, as each vote can shape the well-being of the entire community and surrounding environment. To make responsible decisions, voters need to develop civic character, which often develops and deepens primarily during adolescence.

At the end of the day, civic engagement has a multitude of benefits for society and the individual. By participating actively in the community, adolescents get the unique opportunity to master skills which are crucial for lifelong civic success. Whether it is a local, state, or federal election, adolescents can find ways to engage with what is happening around them, even with the age limitation. Plus, it goes beyond simply voting. Being civically engaged comes with many positives, and adolescence is the perfect time to harness those benefits.