Civic Engagement in Socially Excluded Young Adults Promotes Well-Being: The Mediation of Self-Efficacy, Meaning in Life, and Identity Exploration

Abstract

Civic engagement is thought to contribute to well-being among young adults. However, less is known about the ways in which civic engagement promotes well-being in general and in particular in socially excluded populations. This study investigated whether civic engagement contributes to life satisfaction and hope in a sample of 127 socially excluded young Israeli women who participated in social activism programs for a period of eight months. A mediation model incorporating self-efficacy, meaning in life, and identity exploration was used to examine the contribution of positive attitudes toward civic engagement, civic engagement skills, and political awareness to the participants’ life satisfaction and hope. Indirect effects were found between positive attitudes toward civic engagement, civic engagement skills, and political awareness and the participants’ life satisfaction and hope via self-efficacy. Positive attitudes toward civic engagement and political awareness also predicted the participants’ life satisfaction via meaning in life. A positive direct effect was found between political awareness and hope. However, contrary to the hypothesis, a negative direct effect was found between positive attitudes toward civic engagement and life satisfaction. Civic engagement skills and political awareness also predicted identity exploration. These findings underscore the need for clinicians to be aware of the potential benefits of civic engagement for the well-being of socially excluded populations.

Socially excluded young adult Israeli women’s social activism: A new approach to promoting well-being.

“…Once they felt confident in the group, they began relating to different aspects of their exclusion which also strengthened ties within the group. These findings are consistent with studies showing that for women, the experience of the self is predominantly relational (Maji & Dixit, 2019) and that the notions of civic engagement and community are closely interconnected (Andersen & Banerjee, 2019; Birger Sagiv et al, 2022). The recognition of the group as a pivotal element in the process of development (Albanesi et al, 2007) aligns with the understanding that intimate relationships provide a foundation for transformation and personal growth (Feeney & Collins, 2015).…”

“…individuals, who often report diminished feelings of belonging, self-worth, control, and purpose in life, alongside heightened mental distress (Birger Sagiv et al, 2022) is even more crucial to remedy.…”

“…Despite comprising more than half of the population, women typically encounter significant social exclusion and inequality, which manifests in elevated poverty rates, lower income levels, less participation in the workforce, a notable absence from the public arena, and diminished engagement in civic and political affairs than men (Novo-Corti et al, 2014; Palència et al, 2017). The subjective experience of disadvantaged individuals, who often report diminished feelings of belonging, self-worth, control, and purpose in life, alongside heightened mental distress (Birger Sagiv et al, 2022) is even more crucial to remedy.…”

“…Recently, several studies have addressed the need to promote interventions specifically for socially excluded young women in Israel to help bridge the socioeconomic divide (Zeira et al, 2018). Field practitioners and researchers have suggested the implementation of innovative civic engagement programs based on critical epistemology (Krumer-Nevo, 2016) to improve the well-being of socially excluded young adult women (Birger Sagiv et al, 2022; Itzhaki-Braun & Sulimani-Aidan, 2022) by promoting women’s voices, meaning, and equity (Refaeli et al, 2019). Nevertheless, more empirical studies are needed to better evaluate these programs’ contribution to socially excluded young women.…”

Identity exploration of university students in the somatic and material domains: the mediating role of conspicuous consumption

“…The operationalization of Identity exploration in this study is based on Balistreri, Busch-Rossnagel, & Geisinger (1995), it encapsulates Marcia's original concept and serves as a measure of the exploration of multiple alternative commitments before making a final choice (Wim Meeus, 2011). Examples of studies using similar operationalizations are (Birger Sagiv, Goldner, & Carmel, 2022;Zimmermann, Lannegrand-Willems, Safont-Mottay, & Cannard, 2015).…”