Motivating Political Engagement

How Self-Determination Theory Explains Young Adults’ Political Activity on Social Media

Abstract

This study examined how social media usage and motivational factors derived from Self-Determination Theory (SDT) influenced young adults’ intentions to engage in online and offline political participation. A total of 188 young adults participated in an online survey assessing social media usage, motivational dimensions, and political engagement intentions. Descriptive, correlative, and hierarchical regression analyses were conducted. Social media usage significantly and positively predicted both online and offline engagement. When motivational factors were included, amotivation, introjected extrinsic, and identified extrinsic positively predicted online engagement, whereas external regulation showed a negative effect. The final models explained 52% of the variance in online engagement and 41% in offline engagement. The findings suggest that while social media provides an important platform for political learning and mobilization among young adults, sustained participation depends primarily on autonomous forms of motivation. Encouraging self-determined, value-based motivation may strengthen informed and enduring political participation among young adults.