This study investigated the effects of internal and demographic variables on civic development in late adolescence using the construct civic purpose. We conducted surveys on civic engagement with 480 high school seniors, and surveyed them again two years later. Using multivariate regression and linear mixed models, we tested the main effects of civic purpose dimensions (beyond-the-self motivation, future civic intention), ethnicity, and education on civic development from Time 1 to Time 2. Results showed that while there is an overall decrease (...) in civic engagement in the transition out of high school, both internal and social factors protected participants from steep civic decline. Interaction effects varied. Ethnicity and education interacted in different ways with the dimensions of civic purpose to predict change in traditional and expressive political engagement, and community service engagement. (shrink)

_In _Teaching for Purpose_, Heather Malin explores the idea of purpose as the purpose of education and shows how educators can prepare youth to live intentional, fulfilling lives._ The book highlights the important role that purpose—defined as “a future-directed goal that is personally meaningful and aimed at contributing to something larger than the self”—plays in optimal youth development and in motivating students to promote the cognitive and noncognitive skills that teachers want to instill. Based on a decade of research conducted (...) at the Stanford University Center on Adolescence, the book explores how educators and schools can promote purpose through attention to school culture, curriculum, project learning, service learning, and other opportunities. Malin argues for expansive thinking on the direction schools should take, especially in terms of educating students to be creative, innovative, and self-directed critical thinkers. The book includes profiles of six organizations working in schools across the US that have made purpose development a priority. Infused with the engaging voices of purposeful youth, _Teaching for Purpose_ offers a fresh, inspirational guide for educators who are looking for new ways to support students to succeed not only in school, but in life. (shrink)

ABSTRACT The present study tracked stability and change in college students’ aspirations, as expressed in survey open text entries at two time points three years apart. Interviews with a subset of respondents provided descriptive accounts of their experiences of moral/civic learning connected with their college experiences. Participants (n=640) were drawn from 11 U.S. colleges and universities. Surveys were conducted in winter 2018-2019 and fall 2021. Fifty-four survey respondents participated in hour-long interviews in spring 2021. Most survey respondents’ aspirations were stable (...) over 3 years, with most focusing on contribution beyond-the-self, fulfillment and preparation for vocations. Only a small percentage focused on financial goals or credentialing. Aspirations to contribute beyond-the-self were expressed even more frequently in interviews. When asked to describe what they had learned in courses and extracurricular activities and in their relationships with peers and adults, interviewees described learning relating to ethics and virtue, social justice and civic issues. (shrink)

This study explored gender differences in moral motivations and civic engagement among adolescents to add to existing explanations for the gender gap in political engagement in the US. We examined moral motivations for civic engagement in a sample of 1578 high school seniors, using a mixed-methods analysis of survey and interview data. Multiple regression confirmed that girls were more civically involved and expressed greater future civic intention. However, analysis of motivations suggested that differences in moral motivations might impact ongoing political (...) development, as girls were more likely to take political action out of desire to help, while boys were more often motivated to act on values. Case studies of two interviewees—one male and one female—were analyzed to examine how civic commitment emerges in the interaction of desire to help, to act on civic values and another moral motivation that emerged in the qualitative analysis—to empower others. (shrink)