2018/07/16 by Frank Reichert
Social Sciences · #Electoral Systems and Political Participation #Social Media and Politics #Youth Development and Social Support
paper · doi:10.1080/02134748.2018.1482056
openalex publication_date 2018/07/16 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/31
This study aims to disentangle the effects of interest in politics and internal political efficacy in the prediction of different political activities. The analysis examines the hypothesis that political interest is a more important precursor of electoral and unconventional political participation, and that both political interest and efficacy are required to promote participation in political parties. Using the German Longitudinal Election Study, multiple regression analyses yield that political efficacy is a strong and positive predictor of intentions to participate in party politics and unconventional political behaviour. Political interest has differential effects on voting conditional on whether respondents are surveyed before or after elections, and differential moderated effects appear for conventional and unconventional political action. The findings are discussed with respect to the importance of political interest and efficacy for citizen participation.