Digital Media and Political Engagement: Shaping Youth Environmental Attitudes and Behaviors in Four European Societies

Tyler Hansen, Chloe K. Taylor and Ryan T. Knowles ()
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Tyler Hansen: Department of Teaching and Learning, Washington State University Tri-Cities, Richland, WA 99354, USA
Chloe K. Taylor: Department of Psychology, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322, USA
Ryan T. Knowles: School of Teacher Education and Leadership, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322, USA

Societies, 2025, vol. 15, issue 11, 1-16

Abstract: This study investigates the relationship between students’ political engagement, civic knowledge, socioeconomic status, gender, and digital media use and their pro-environmental attitudes and behaviors in Denmark, Sweden, Spain, and Romania. To do this, we use data from the International Civic and Citizenship Study (ICCS:22) and employ hierarchical level modeling. We found that students with higher civic knowledge and greater confidence in their ability to be active citizens were more likely to report both pro-environmental behaviors and positive attitudes in every country studied. Socioeconomic status also showed positive links with environmental engagement. Digital media use was linked to more pro-environmental behaviors in all countries, but to less positive attitudes in Spain. These results demonstrate the need for context-specific strategies that teach students how to engage collectively towards a more sustainable future.

Keywords: pro-environmental attitudes (PEA); pro-environmental behaviors (PEB); digital media engagement; political engagement; youth environmental education (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: A13 A14 P P0 P1 P2 P3 P4 P5 Z1 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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