ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the social and demographic factors that are linked to young people's civic and political engagement. It discusses the social factors that are the closest to the developing individual, including both the family and the peer group, and describes intermediate level social factors such as the neighbourhood, the school and youth organisations, before discussing the most distal social factors such as popular music and the mass media. The chapter discusses the demographic factors of Socio-economic status, gender and ethnic status. General family values are also related to the development of civic and political attitudes. Various characteristics of the neighbourhood in which youth live have also been found to be related to their civic and political engagement. The organisations and associations to which young people have access are a further important factor that can influence their civic and political engagement.
