ABSTRACT

Positive youth development (PYD) models propose that character is an important antecedent to civic action, yet few studies have examined temporal links between character strengths and civic behavior. Using a daily diary design, this study tests temporal associations between character and civic behavior during the 2018 US midterm elections. Participants (N = 235, M_age = 19.43) completed seven daily assessments of three character strengths (purpose, future-mindedness, gratitude) and four types of civic behavior (volunteering/helping behavior, environmentalism, standard political behavior, social movement behavior). There were between-person weekly effects and within-person daily effects for most character strengths, volunteering/helping behavior, and environmentalism. Higher daily purpose was associated with greater daily standard political and social movement involvement. Greater social movement involvement predicted higher next-day purpose and future-mindedness. Greater volunteering/helping behavior predicted higher next-day future-mindedness. Higher purpose predicted greater next-day standard political and social movement involvement. Findings support PYD models by documenting nuanced associations between character and civic action.

摘要

积极青年发展 (PYD) 模型提出，性格是公民行动的重要前提，但很少有研究检验性格优势与公民行为之间的时间联系。本研究采用每日日记设计，测试了 2018 年美国中期选举期间性格与公民行为之间的时间关联。参与者（N = 235，M_年龄 = 19.43) 完成了对三种性格优势（目标、未来意识、感恩）和四种公民行为（志愿/帮助行为、环保主义、标准政治行为、社会运动行为）的七次日常评估。对于大多数性格优势、志愿服务/帮助行为和环保主义而言，存在人与人之间的每周影响和个人内部的日常影响。更高的日常目标与更大的日常标准政治和社会运动参与相关。更大的社会运动参与预示着更高的第二天目标和未来意识。更多的志愿服务/帮助行为预示着第二天更高的未来意识。更高的目标预示着更多的次日标准政治和社会运动参与。