The Declination in Civic Engagement and Young Adults

Civic engagement is defined as community involvement in social issues and political affairs. Social commitments envelop a scope of actions and roles within the community. Examples of these roles include participating in electoral campaigns and volunteering in non-profit organizations. The goal of this research study is to reflect on the effects of the declination of civic engagement on young adults in the 21st century. This paper will conduct a qualitative research focusing on the sociological concerns in the declension of civic involvement. Specifically, this reflection will focus on the social disengagement of adults between the ages of 25 and 34. This paper supports the belief that young adults that are either unemployed or not attending college are less likely to participate in civic engagement.

Analysis of the Effects of the Declination of Civic Engagement

The reflective analysis this paper establishes is that an absence of employment or college education leads to a significant decline in a politically engaged society. Previous research shows that half of young adults between the ages of 18 and 29 participated in presidential elections in the 1970’s. Thirty years later, in the year 2000, this percentage receded to only one third of young adults who voted in presidential polls. Likewise, about one quarter of young adults of the same age group contributed in congressional elections, while less than one fifth partook in such elections in the year 2002 (Bok, 2008, pp. 172-173). Sociologists have noticed a change in civic engagement between the 19th and 21st century. Research from these studies revealed the drastic fall in civic engagement from this particular social group.

This paper will develop the standpoint that emerging young adults between the ages of 25 and 34 and are either unemployed or not attending college, are less likely to participate in civic engagement. While Putman’s (2000, pp. 216-217) theory associates the decrease in civic engagement with the increase in technological advances, the book titled, “Bowling Alone” by Robert D. Putman (2000, pp. 216-217) references an association between the decline in civic engagement and advances in technology. Specifically, it states that as technology advances, people are spending more time engaging in technology and less time in performing civic roles.

This research focused on the life stage of emerging adults. Emerging adulthood is a fairly new life stage that describes the development of adults between the ages of 18 and 24 in relation to the same age group in recent decades. Particularly, young adults follow a life pattern that delays social accomplishments. While young adults in recent decades fulfilled these social roles by the age of 22, the current generation is more likely to begin to accomplish these social roles by the age of 26 (Arnett, 2004, pp. 3-4). For instance, earning an academic degree, acquiring an occupation, marriage, and parenting does not happen until at least four years after the age it would typically take place in recent decades.

For the purpose of the present analysis, the idea of civic disengagement will be defined as the detachment of individuals and groups from community and political matters, as a result of unemployment. Theories relevant to the current study state that employed individuals are more likely to participate in civic and social activities (Strauss, 2008, pp. 143-145). Another significant theory is the concept of social exclusion (Lewis & Sharps, 2010, pp. 180-182). This disruption in social functions interferes with the regular functions of social groups. The failure to acquire a job or to develop academic skills is more likely to cultivate thoughts of self-failure, especially during the emerging adulthood stage. As a result of not fulfilling the roles implemented by society, sociological concerns, such as self-insufficiency and self-dysfunction develop long lasting effects of depression and anxiety. Similarly, the individual in society is more likely to experience a loss of agency due to the lack of self-determination derived through productivity.

The expectations in fulfilling certain social roles while developing an individual identity can be overpowering to some individuals, especially for emerging young adults. A study shows that a micro-social view about suicide reveals that the people most susceptible to acts of suicide are the most vulnerable to social stress (Scambler, 2008, pp. 26-28). This supports the effects analyzed within this paper. These effects include self-failure, depression, anxiety, self-insufficiency, loss of agency, social isolation, self-dysfunction, low self-confidence, exclusion, self-efficacy, and loss of personal value; thus, contributing to a state of vulnerability and social stress.

Eventually, society contributes to identity formation by communicating their perception of oneself, which affects the super-ego; thus, relating to the effects included in this paper. For instance, society is more likely to think that young adults without a job or academic career are more likely to be disinterested, unproductive, and dysfunctional; therefore, the individual begins to accept such perception of unachieved status. The effects of the social stress and pressure employed by society are especially evident in emerging adults. The apprehension and insecurity due to instability and ambiguity in the future can be related to the social exclusion theory, where these individuals retract from society due to an unstable identity and social role. These feelings caused by the demands society places are also contributing factors of suicide.

Moreover, based on the analysis this paper presents, it suggests that educated people will have less suicidal thoughts and behavior, than non-educated students. Also, employed individuals are less likely to commit suicide, compared to unemployed people. Additional suggestions can be that married couples are less likely to commit suicide due to social factors, as they have a role in society, as well as self-identity. Consequently, based on the thought that people with established roles in society have an identity and are more actively engaged in the community, these individuals are less likely to develop social stress or negative social characteristics, such as loss of agency, social isolation, and self-dysfunction. While emerging adults develop with uncertainty about their future, as well as personal and professional roles in society, these individuals are probably more likely to develop negative social characteristics, which in turn, isolates the individual from social groups and civic engagement, such as participating in jury duty. The sense of civic and community urgency diminishes while emerging adults struggle to establish their personal life path; thus, detaching from activities relating to the community and political matters.

The declination in civic engagement also creates effects on future generations. For instance, when emerging adults become parents, they are more likely to raise their children mirroring their own development. Their children will more likely develop with an absence or apathy for civic engagement. This might be one reason for future statistics to show a greater declination in civic engagement. Eventually, the effects of isolating from the community are more likely to continue in future generations; thus, societies are more likely to represent individuals with low competency, drive, and efficacy.

As oppose to allowing people to alienate themselves due to unemployment, it is recommended that societies unite and assist individuals in feeling worthy, valued, and sufficient. Often times, societies are more likely to contribute to the negative effects described in this paper and are often part of the motive behind suicide and alienation. Likewise, it is understood that in recent years, group responsibilities, such as families, have increased due to financial burdens; however, these are the times social groups must connect.

Findings

This paper supported the believe that young adults between the ages of 25 and 34 that are either unemployed or not attending college are less likely to participate in civic engagement. The research conducted in this paper was consistent with the belief presented in this paper. The reflection of the effects the declination of civic engagement has on emerging adults has been supported by studies and theories discussed in this paper. This paper supported social exclusion between individuals and social and political involvement, due to unemployment and socio economic status. The analysis conducted in this research presented a discrepancy between Putman’s theory referencing an increase in technological advances is significantly correlated with the decrease in civic engagement. Contrary to Putman’s theory, this study supported the likelihood of an association between unemployed young adults and the fall in civic engagement.

The implications of the analysis conducted in this study are revealed through social disruptions and the smooth transition from in emerging adulthood. To assist in decreasing this rivaling suicide percentage, a system that encourages self-sufficiency, self-confidence, and agency should be reinforced. By implementing a process that yields positive results, the individual will more likely demonstrate interests in community involvement and political engagement; thus, people will become a part of social groups. In the future, it is suggested that research be conducted on older adults between the ages of 35-44. Specifically, it is recommended to analyze the association between civic engagement and marital status, such as single, married, divorced, or widowed. Additionally, another recommendation is to conduct research on a correlation between civic engagement and people who practice regular fitness exercise.

References

Arnett, J. J. (2004). A longer road to adulthood. Emerging adulthood: The winding road from the late teens through the twenties (pp. 3-4). Oxford [u.a.: Oxford Univ. Press.

Bok, D. C. (2008). Preparation for citizenship. Our underachieving colleges: A candid look at how much students learn and why they should be learning more (pp. 172-173). Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press.

Lewis, K., & Sharps, S. (2010). Reducing risks and increasing resilience in standard of living. The measure of America 2010-2011 mapping risks and resilience (pp. 180-182). New York: A joint publication of the Social Science Research Council and New York University Press.

Putnam, R. D. (2000). Technology and mass media. Bowling alone: The collapse and revival of American community (pp. 216-217). New York: Simon & Schuster.

Scambler, G. (2008). Sociology and psychological factors and health. Sociology as applied to medicine (6th ed., pp. 26-28). Edinburgh: Saunders/Elsevier.

Strauss, S. (2008). Nationality and ethnic background. Volunteering and social inclusion interrelations between unemployment and civic engagement in Germany and Great Britain (pp. 143-145). Wiesbaden: VS, Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften.