January 2009
CIRCLE releases a new paper by Constance Flanagan, Peter Levine, and Richard Settersten entitled “Civic Engagement and the Changing Transition to Adulthood” (PDF). This study, funded by the Spencer Foundation, argues that life has changed dramatically for people in their 20s. Marriage, childbearing, financial independence, and other aspects of the “transition to adulthoood” have been transformed since the 1970s, and are now very different for people with and without college educations. These changes and differences powerfully affect civic engagement. For example, it appears that younger generations have delayed voting, in much the same way that they have delayed marriage and childbearing. But young adults without college experience are permanently missing some aspects of civic engagement–such as group membership–that were common thirty years ago.
As this sample graph shows, non-college youth are less engaged than they were in the 1970s in nine out of ten forms of civic engagement.
Another graph in the report shows that they are now less engaged than their college-educated peers in all ten of these ways (including union membership). The full report contains much more data, analysis, and policy recommendations.
For more information on non-college youth, please see CIRCLE’s latest fact sheet “Youth Demographics - Youth with No College Experience.” The fact sheet contains information on demographic trends of young people in the United States who have no college experience, for the years between 1968 and 2007. To download the fact sheet click here.
Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning & Engagement
Hmm..little bit about this??? http://www.blog.downtowners.ch/wp-content/uploads/2008/usa
Great paper, I think it provides great deal of useful information.
I wonder where one gets these statistics from. The only valid one I see is reading newspaper. Because there is so many other ways to get the news.
Great study, good education help people very much on build a great future for them.
Thank for your informations.
Alot of the stats could have come from census reports right?
“Non-college youth are less engaged than they were in the 1970s” in my experience that wouldn’t seem to be true but you can’t argue with real research. Hopefully those numbers will go up in the next few years.
The great census report!
As one grows older trust decreases i would say
Well folks, I would definitely like to add something interesting into this discussion but unfortunately I am not able to.
I think you have less trust as you get older.
As you age, it would seem apparrent that trust is irrelevant to power.
Power does not always come from trust, sometimes the opposite happens.
The result on that graph looks odd to me. However, it’s the truth. Sometime, what really happens is just different from your sense.
It’s a different era so it is natural that life has changed for people in their mid-20’s. Various dynamics exist now in society.
A lot has changed since the 70s. A degree is now the minimum requirement.
Would like to know more。
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I liked it so much and I bookmarked your website..
Thanks
So much has changed since the 70s, but still - this is a good report and its important to look back to our past to see where we are heading in the future.
Well folks, I would definitely like to add something interesting into this discussion but unfortunately I am not able to.It’s a different era so it is natural that life has changed for people in their mid-20’s. Various dynamics exist now in society.
This is a controversial article and it goes to wonder whether it is really relevant to today’s society.
I think there’s a LOT of changes in youth in their 20s than those from the 70s. Life’s a lot different now than it was then.
Constance Flanagan, Peter Levine, and Richard Settersten are true experts in their field of expertise
I must say that education is a major factor of every person’s attitude or outlook in life. Youth of today think carefully before making a decision in order. They, educated young individuals, are more realistic/practical than the previous generation.
Proper education affects almost all of the decisions of Youth today. They become more responsible when it comes to decision making. Actually, their top priority in life is to achieve something.
Transition to adulthood in 1970 & 2000 shown by the graph is a good way of analysis of civic engagement.Thanks for it.
Thank you everyone for all the advice. This has been a very good support for me. I will tell him all that you all have shared. God bless you all.
The youth of today are more engaged than they ever have been….at least in my lifetime. It is a great thing to see.
Decent Education contributes a lot in every person’s way of thinking. Most educated people are more concern to their society. In that way, they give more importance in every activity they are participating their social aspect.
As the world develops before are dealing child bearing, some are even not bearing children. They are turning to their pet as their children.
I really don’t think that the education system can be compared in thios way to that of the 1970’s- so much has changed it’s a totally different playing field.
The bar graph regarding the civic engagement of age group 20-29 is very informative,thanks.
Thanks. I was doing some research about this and this post was very helpful to me. Thanks again.
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You guys always deliver useful content. Awesome post. Very interesting and valuable videos. Keep posting more articles. Thanks for sharing useful info.
You raise many questions in my head. Statistics is cool but it doesn’t show the reallity. You wrote an excellent post, but it is also thought provoking, and I will have to ponder it a bit more; I will be back soon.
Great info. By the way, is there any present statistic?
Great papers. Really look forward to reading them.
REally usefull Informations looking to read more about youth civic engagement. Always interessting.
I am impressed from this post….the person who create this post it was a great human..thanks for shared this with us.i found this informative and interesting blog so i think so its very useful and knowledge able.I would like to thank you for the efforts you have made in writing this article.
Thanks. I was doing some research about this and this post was very helpful to me. Thanks again
I would like to ask the same question than Dog Behaviors : Is there any present statistic?
Thanks
Thanks info.This has been a very good support for me. is there any present statistic?
“Non-college youth are less engaged than they were in the 1970s” in my experience that wouldn’t seem to be true but you can’t argue with real research.
It’s hardly a great surprise thet younger people are refraining from voting. I believe the ‘older’ people are also voting less now. And not just in the US, this is alos true in most ‘democartic western countries’.This due to the total lack of trust in our governments and having to decide between one bunch of money grabbing, selfish, time wasters or another identical group with slightly diffrent policies. That and the fact that because they (the governments) have allowed the whole economy to go to rats over a number of years means everyone is working so harde at their own jobs and their own day to day lives they have little time for anything else.
Thanks. I was doing some research about this and this post was very helpful to me. Thanks again
after many researches I can say that it is real what you said above. Great job!
That graph looks a bit odd to me. However, it seem to be the truth. Sometime, what really happens is just the opposite from your sense.
Nice census graph. I think the older you are the less trust you have
Thanks info.This has been a very good support for me. is there any present statistic?
Civic Engagement changes transition to adulthood.
This is all truth.
Civic engagement rules need some change.
Rules are different from other countries.