Civic engagement in early adolescence: a contextual view on the civic-oriented activities among Finnish 6th graders

Abstract

This study examines the civic engagement of early adolescents through the lens of Social Cognitive Theory, focusing on the scope of civic-oriented activities they engage in, along with the spaces and social environments where these activities occur. The study is based on interview data from 6th-grade Finnish students (N = 20; ages 12–13), which was analysed using thematic analysis. The findings indicate that civic engagement is already broad and diverse among early adolescents. The study identifies four main categories of civic-oriented activities that early adolescents perform: awareness and education, communication, community involvement, and formal participation. These activities take place across seven different physical and digital spaces and within seven distinct social environments, from those close to the individual to more distant and broader.