Political engagement and wellbeing among college students

Political engagement may be associated with wellbeing among college students in complex ways. The present study examines the associations between six forms of political engagement (activism, expressive political behaviors, traditional political behaviors, political groups, student leadership, and cultural/ethnic organizations) and multiple wellbeing outcomes among college students (N = 10,824) across 28 universities. Overall, the pattern of findings suggests that “traditional” political behaviors are weakly positively associated with wellbeing and “non-traditional” (expressive and activism forms of political engagement) are weakly negatively associated with wellbeing. Findings vary somewhat for students across racial/ethnic background. •Associations between six forms of political engagement and wellbeing were tested.•“Traditional” political behaviors and political group involvement are weakly positively associated with wellbeing.•Activism and expressive political behaviors are weakly negatively associated with wellbeing.•Findings vary somewhat across students from various racial/ethnic backgrounds.