The Development of Political Interest Among Adolescents: A Communication Mediation Approach Using Fi...

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Bibliographic Details
Title: The Development of Political Interest Among Adolescents: A Communication Mediation Approach Using Five Waves of Panel Data;
Authors and Corporations: Shehata, Adam, Amnå, Erik
In: Communication Research, 46, 2019, 8, p. 1055-1077
published:
SAGE Publications
Media Type: Article, E-Article

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further information
Physical Description: 1055-1077
ISSN: 1552-3810
0093-6502
DOI: 10.1177/0093650217714360
published in: Communication Research
Language: English
Subjects:
Collection: SAGE Publications (CrossRef)
Table of Contents

<jats:p>Political interest is one of the most important individual-level predictors of news media use, public opinion formation, and engagement. When, how, and why some citizens develop a strong interest in politics is, however, less clear. This study analyzes the development of political interest during the formative years of adolescence, using a five-wave panel study among Swedish adolescents, covering a period of 4 years. Based on the citizen communication mediation model, we analyze how interest in political and current affairs news among family and friends influence adolescents’ political interest. Taken together, while the findings lend support for several of the hypotheses, mechanisms, and processes derived from the communication mediation model, parents appear more important than peers when it comes to shaping adolescents’ political interest.</jats:p>