Social Connection and Social Responsibility as Pathways in Asian and Latino Young Adults’ Critical Consciousness

• In Event: Examining How Critical Consciousness is Fostered, Facilitated, and Performed Among Young People Across the US

Abstract

The theoretical underpinnings of sociopolitical development suggest that sociopolitical action occurs when individuals relate to and connect with others and feel a sense of responsibility to improve the wellbeing of marginalized communities. However, very little empirical work has examined how social connection and social responsibility explain the pathway to sociopolitical action, specifically in a critical consciousness model. To address this gap, this study examined a longitudinal mediation path model wherein critical reflection and sociopolitical efficacy predict social responsibility and social connection, which subsequently motivate sociopolitical action.

Data for this study come from the Civic Purpose Project; a longitudinal study evaluating civic development among ethnically diverse youth in California. The majority of the participants self-identified as Asian (N = 163; Mage = 16.82, SD = .51; 58% female; 77% US-born) or Latino (N = 191; Mage = 16.85, SD = .47; 61% female; 85% US-born). During senior year of high school, participants responded to items that assessed critical reflection (“America is a fair society where everyone has an equal chance to get ahead”; reverse-coded), external political efficacy (“The government doesn’t care what people like me and my family think”), and internal political efficacy (“I’m better informed about politics and government than most people my age”). Approximately two years later, participants provided data on their extent of engagement in sociopolitical activities (“Attended a protest march, meeting, or demonstration”), feelings of social connection (“I have lived in neighborhood where people take care of each other”), and social responsibility (“I stand up for the rights of others even at my own expense”).

A multiple-group structural equation model tested direct and mediated relations of young adults’ critical reflection, external political efficacy, internal political efficacy, social responsibility, social connection, and sociopolitical action. As depicted in Figure 1, Asian young adults with greater beliefs in their ability to engage politically were more likely to feel connected to social groups one year later. Moreover, for Asian young adults, those who endorsed greater social responsibility also felt greater social connection. Interestingly, none of the variables in question directly or indirectly contributed to Asian young adults’ engagement in critical action. Latino participants who reported greater beliefs in their ability to engage politically while in high school were more likely to feel connected to other groups and feel responsible for their wellbeing. Latino young adults’ feelings of social connection were positively related with sociopolitical action. Mediation analysis suggests that youths’ beliefs about how well they can engage in the political system while in high school predicts greater feelings of connection with others one year later, which subsequently predicts greater engagement in sociopolitical action.
The results of this study suggest that feeling competent about creating social change and feeling connected to others are critical mechanisms to social activism, specifically for Latino young adults. In light of past studies that suggest critical consciousness development reflects positive youth development, future research should continue to consider social connection and responsibility in empirical models of critical consciousness.

Authors

• Marbella Uriostegui, University of Illinois at Chicago
  Presenting Author

• Andrea DaViera, University of Illinois at Chicago
  Non-Presenting Author

• Juan Ramón Arvizu-Sevilla, University of Illinois at Chicago
  Non-Presenting Author

• Hana Khan, University of Illinois at Chicago
  Non-Presenting Author

• Amanda L. Roy, University of Illinois at Chicago
  Non-Presenting Author