Young Voices, Big Impact: How Chinese Youth's Sense of Gain Shapes Social Engagement

Young people are the future, and their involvement in society is key to its growth. In China, feeling like you're gaining something, whether it's political influence, economic benefits, or improvements in daily life, really motivates young people to get involved. A study using data from the CSS2021 database looked into how these feelings affect youth participation in social issues, rights protection, and overall community life. It found that the drive to participate is strongly tied to how young people feel they're gaining something.Interestingly, while feeling economically secure might make young people less interested in some social issues, feeling like they're making a difference in people's daily lives boosts their engagement. Political gains also encourage youth to jump on board. This shows that understanding what young people really care about can help the government make them more active in shaping society. After all, youth involvement can make a big difference in how well the government works.