Youth, Political Participation, and Awareness: An Empirical Study on University Students’ Political Sensitivity

Political sensitivity is a significant concept that determines individuals’ interest in political events, their level of awareness, and their tendency to participate in democratic processes. Recent studies have shown that political sensitivity is shaped not only through traditional forms of political participation but also through new forms of engagement such as digital activism, the use of social media, and involvement in civil society activities. However, for these forms of participation to be meaningful and sustainable, they must be directly linked to young individuals’ level of political awareness.This study aims to examine the levels of political sensitivity among university students and how these levels differ according to various variables. A cross-sectional survey model, one of the quantitative research methods, was adopted in the study. The research population consists of university students studying at public universities in Türkiye, while the sample comprises 401 students. The Political Sensitivity Scale was used as a data collection tool. In the analysis of the data, t-tests and ANOVA were applied. The research findings indicate that the political sensitivity levels of university students are generally at a moderate level. This suggests that while young people follow political developments, this awareness does not necessarily translate into active political participation. The replacement of traditional participation forms with digital activism and politically expressive use of social media requires a redefinition of the concept of political sensitivity. However, the absence of a significant relationship between the duration of social media use and political sensitivity points to the limited role of digital platforms in fostering political awareness. Moreover, demographic variables such as age and place of residence were found to have no significant impact on political sensitivity, indicating that political consciousness is shaped more by personal experiences, social environment, and media exposure. On the other hand, the gender variable showed a significant difference in political sensitivity, with male students reporting higher levels than their female counterparts. Voting experience also emerged as a prominent factor enhancing political sensitivity; students who had voted two or more times demonstrated significantly higher political awareness. Overall, the study highlights the need to strengthen political socialization processes, build a more trustworthy political institution in the eyes of the youth, and promote gender equality in the political sphere to enhance political sensitivity among young individuals.