Sanford School faculty secure two grants to study youth political engagement in polarized times

Faculty and faculty affiliates in the T. Denny Sanford School of Social and Family Dynamics have been awarded two significant grants to investigate how young adults develop their political identities and engage in political activities during a period of extreme polarization and social change.

The research, led by Nilda Flores-Gonzalez (principal investigator), with Nathan Martin, Angela Gonzales and Emir Estrada as co-principal investigators, will be supported by a $399,000 grant from the National Science Foundation (2024-26) and a $75,000 grant from the Russell Sage Foundation (2024-25).

Understanding youth political engagement

This project will explore how young adults' social and political identities are shaped by the current political climate and how these experiences impact their attitudes and behaviors in 2024. Building on data gathered from 2020 to 2023 in the Arizona Youth Identity Project, the study offers an opportunity to examine the effects of unprecedented political events on young voters this year.

One key area of focus is understanding how both national and local political events shape the political views and identities of young people. The researchers will analyze the impacts of political polarization, policies and actions affecting democratic processes on the political beliefs and attitudes of young adults. By exploring these influences, the study will assess how growing political divides shape the development of political identity and voting behavior.

Another central aspect of the research is to find how opportunities and resources for youth political engagement have shifted since the 2020 election. The study will investigate which online and offline platforms, including social media, play key roles in mobilizing young adults to vote and participate in political activities. The researchers will also examine emerging forms of political activism during unsettled times and evaluate how various platform features either encourage or discourage political engagement.

By examining the roles of social networks, activism, and political events, the researchers hope to uncover key factors that motivate or discourage youth involvement. This deeper understanding could help inform future research and work fostering meaningful civic engagement among young people.

Nathan Martin, associate professor and co-principal investigator said, “We are excited to understand the political motivations, priorities and activities of young voters in Arizona, who are again poised to play a deciding role in selecting the next President.”