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Jag röstar, alltså finns jag.

Befrits, Edvin LU and Blomberg, Sven LU (2025) STVK04 20251
Department of Political Science
Abstract
Young adults consistently show lower levels of political participation compared to older citizens which is a pattern that threatens democratic inclusiveness. While there exists research that has emphasized structural and resource-based explanations, this study aims to investigate whether Self-Determination Theory (SDT) can offer additional insights into this gap. Using survey data from the European Social Survey (N = 130,000+), we examine how three psychological needs - competence, autonomy, and relatedness - are linked with voting behavior among young and older adults.
Findings show that all three needs significantly predict the likelihood of voting, with relatedness (feeling represented by a political party) being the strongest... (More)
Young adults consistently show lower levels of political participation compared to older citizens which is a pattern that threatens democratic inclusiveness. While there exists research that has emphasized structural and resource-based explanations, this study aims to investigate whether Self-Determination Theory (SDT) can offer additional insights into this gap. Using survey data from the European Social Survey (N = 130,000+), we examine how three psychological needs - competence, autonomy, and relatedness - are linked with voting behavior among young and older adults.
Findings show that all three needs significantly predict the likelihood of voting, with relatedness (feeling represented by a political party) being the strongest predictor. However, young adults report lower levels of relatedness and autonomy, but higher self-assessed political competence, partially contradicting expectations. While SDT can be useful in explaining general patterns of political engagement, it does not fully account for the lower participation of young adults.
The study adds to the existing literature by contributing a motivational psychological lens to the study of political behavior and by showing that enhancing young citizens’ sense of political belonging may be key to increasing turnout. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Befrits, Edvin LU and Blomberg, Sven LU
supervisor
organization
alternative title
En kvantitativ studie om Self Determination Theory och unga vuxnas politiska engagemang
course
STVK04 20251
year
type
M2 - Bachelor Degree
subject
keywords
Political participation, Youth engagement, Self-Determination Theory, Intrinsic motivation, Psychological needs, Voting behavior, Emerging Adulthood, Political efficacy, Relatedness, Autonomy, Competence
language
Swedish
id
9189831
date added to LUP
2025-08-08 11:05:34
date last changed
2025-08-08 11:05:34
@misc{9189831,
  abstract     = {{Young adults consistently show lower levels of political participation compared to older citizens which is a pattern that threatens democratic inclusiveness. While there exists research that has emphasized structural and resource-based explanations, this study aims to investigate whether Self-Determination Theory (SDT) can offer additional insights into this gap. Using survey data from the European Social Survey (N = 130,000+), we examine how three psychological needs - competence, autonomy, and relatedness - are linked with voting behavior among young and older adults.
Findings show that all three needs significantly predict the likelihood of voting, with relatedness (feeling represented by a political party) being the strongest predictor. However, young adults report lower levels of relatedness and autonomy, but higher self-assessed political competence, partially contradicting expectations. While SDT can be useful in explaining general patterns of political engagement, it does not fully account for the lower participation of young adults.
The study adds to the existing literature by contributing a motivational psychological lens to the study of political behavior and by showing that enhancing young citizens’ sense of political belonging may be key to increasing turnout.}},
  author       = {{Befrits, Edvin and Blomberg, Sven}},
  language     = {{swe}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Jag röstar, alltså finns jag.}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}