Youth sociopolitical development: A conceptual framework by racial and gender minoritized youth organizers

Angie Malorni, Shae Dolan, Andrew Hong, Naima Joseph, Khalid Mohamed, Liana Moore, Linda Phan, Ireland Skoglund, Iris Too, Sidonie Wittman

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Youth sociopolitical development (SPD) is a powerful protective and promotive factor for marginalized adolescents' social, emotional, physical, and academic well-being. Despite having unique insight and experiential knowledge about SPD processes, youth have been excluded from conceptual framework and model development. As part of a Youth Participatory Action Research project, 11 adolescents (ages 14–19) and one adult ask “How do adolescent community organizers with varying social and political experiences conceptualize youth SPD?” We used a multiple case study design, with a grounded theory analytic approach. The YPAR collective identified four interrelated, experiential domains of youth SPD: thinking, feeling, doing and relating. Within each domain, we identified and defined key constructs and practices. The YPAR collective's qualitative inquiry resulted in more nuance for existing frameworks of critical consciousness and critical action, and the collective pushes the SPD field to better integrate social and emotional aspects of SPD practice. They offer a conceptual framework that is rooted in their experiential, sensory, learned, and social knowledge, from a multiple-marginalized positionality. These insights enrich the fields of SPD research and practice.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)473-489
Number of pages17
JournalAmerican Journal of Community Psychology
Volume73
Issue number3-4
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 2024

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Health(social science)
  • Applied Psychology
  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

Keywords

  • critical consciousness
  • participatory research
  • sociopolitical development
  • youth
  • youth organizing

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