Encouraging Civic Engagement: How Teens Are (or Are Not) Becoming Responsible Citizens

This Research Brief brings together key findings from a review of 60 studies on civic engagement. Some research suggests that young people who are involved in civic engagement programs are likely to be more involved in school, to graduate from high school, to hold more positive civic attitudes, and to avoid teen pregnancy and drug use than those who are not. Other research shows that teens who take part in civic activities during high school or participate in an extracurricular activity are more likely to engage in these activities in adulthood