The Development of Political Interest Among Adolescents : A Communication Mediation Approach Using Five Waves of Panel Data

• Political interest is one of the most important individual-level predictors of media use, public opinion formation and engagement. When, how and why some citizens develop a strong interest in politics is however less clear. This study analyzes the development of political interest during the formative years of adolescence, using a five-wave panel study among Swedish adolescents, covering a period of four years. Based on the citizen communication mediation model, we analyze how interest in political and current affairs news among family and friends influence adolescents’ political interest. Taken together, while the findings lend support for several of the hypotheses, mechanisms and processes derived from the communication mediation model – parents’ appear more important than peers when it comes to shaping adolescents’ political interest. 

Subject headings

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Medie- och kommunikationsvetenskap (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Media and Communications (hsv//eng)

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Statsvetenskap (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Political Science (hsv//eng)

Keyword

political interest

socialization

communication mediation

adolescents

news media use

Media and Communication Studies

Medie- och kommunikationsvetenskap

Political Science

Statskunskap

political interest

socialization

communication mediation

adolescents

news media use

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)