The Hidden Forces Driving Youth Participation in Climate Policy Among Korean Youth

Objective: This research explores the determinants influencing youth engagement in climate change policy, focusing on the roles of awareness, concern, self-efficacy, attitudes, and personal norms in shaping policy participation intentions. Additionally, it examines the mediating effects of concern, efficacy, attitudes, and personal norms within the relationship between awareness and intention. Theoretical Framework: The research framework integrates the Theory of Planned Behavior, Risk Perception Theory, and Social Cognitive Theory, providing a multi-faceted perspective on the motivations for youth climate policy participation. Method: Applying structural equation modeling (SEM) with a phantom model approach, this study analyzes survey data from 600 adolescents aged 14 to 19. The phantom model approach enables a precise evaluation of both direct and indirect pathways, allowing for the re-specification of indirect effects as total effects in independent models, yielding robust estimates and confidence intervals across mediation pathways. Results and Discussion: The findings indicate that awareness alone does not directly catalyze intentions to participate. Instead, significant indirect effects are observed, with concern, efficacy, attitudes, and personal norms acting as critical mediators. This intricate interaction highlights the importance of fostering these psychological dimensions to facilitate youth engagement in climate policy efforts. Research Implications: The study’s outcomes offer actionable insights for the development of climate education and policy initiatives that bolster youth agency. By cultivating self-efficacy and constructive attitudes, these programs may enhance youth contributions to climate governance. Originality/Value: This study advances understanding of youth engagement in climate policy by examining a comprehensive model in which awareness shapes intentions indirectly through mediators such as concern, efficacy, attitudes, and personal norms. Addressing gaps left by prior studies, it clarifies the psychological mechanisms that drive youth participation, highlighting the essential role of these factors in empowering meaningful youth involvement in climate governance.