Effects of Civic Engagement on Mental Health in Different Age Groups. Insights from Panel Data

Abstract

Abstract Common wisdom and early empirical research maintain that being civically engaged contributes to better mental health, particularly among older adults. However, recent quantitative studies using longitudinal data rather suggest that effects of civic engagement on mental health may have been overestimated in prior studies. This contribution aims to explore why recent longitudinal studies found less support for mental health benefits of civic engagement and to summarize the current state of empirical research on the link between civic engagement and mental health. In sum, if any significant associations between civic engagement and mental health were observed in newer studies, they applied mainly to specific subgroups (e.g., individuals with more role losses, such as retirees) and to specific components of mental health (e.g., perceptions of meaning in life).

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