Civic engagement and trajectories of mental health
EVENTS
Findings from our person-centered analytical approach did not reveal any significant differences in civic engagement (ideology or action) between the three mental health trajectories. However, findings from our correlation analysis (a variable-centered analysis) indicated statistically significant concurrent and longitudinal correlations between some indicators of civic engagement and mental health (especially mental well-being). These findings, albeit reflecting weak associations, align with earlier findings (The findings that engagement in civic activities predicts better mental health has been quite consistent in the literature. However, earlier research on how civic engagement predicts trajectories of mental health over time is sparse. Indeed, to the best of our knowledge, our study is the first to investigate this prediction. While we did not expect the findings to be different when assessing mental health as trajectories, there is a possibility that civic engagement among youth in Norway (the study context) involves more than the indicators we have focused on. Scandinavian countries in general, and Norway in particular, are known for their engagement in civic activities compared to other European countries (In the Norwegian society, the concept of “dugnad” as a civic activity is well established. It can be anything from getting together to help friends move house, cleaning the streets with neighbors, to organizing events in the local community. Dugnad is particularly important when a major task needs to be undertaken in a short time and there are limited funds to get the task done. By mobilizing many people, a lot of work can be done in one afternoon or over a weekend. Following a day or several days of dugnad a joint informal meal is often provided by the receiver or organizer of the dugnad (a local NGO, an individual or neighborhood initiative), underscoring the importance of the social part of the dugnad. Thus, a core element of dugnad and its value in the Norwegian society is the sense of unity and social responsibility, reflecting opportunities and qualities that can mitigate mental distress as well as improve mental well-being. These unique forms of civic engagement in Norway may not have been adequately captured by the standardized assessment tools used in the present study.Furthermore, while in-person engagement in community development is important, globalization, technological advancement, and modernization might have changed the way young people engage in civic activities. A United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) report on digital civic engagement suggests that digital venues may offer many of today’s youth opportunities to engage in civic activities at different societal levels that could not be afforded by traditional forms (