Between interest and activism: a person-centred approach to political participation among Greek adolescents

Understanding patterns of adolescent political participation is essential for healthy democracies. Drawing upon data from Greek youth (n = 589, Mage = 15.1), this study (1) identified distinct profiles of adolescent political participation, (2) examined predictors of profile membership, and (3) explored transitions between profiles across a one-year period. Latent profile analyses uncovered three profiles that differentiated between their level of participation in both latent and manifest forms: ‘informed enthusiasts’ (90.3%), ‘activists’ (7.4%), and ‘involved conventionalists’ (2.2%). Political efficacy, national identity processes, political alienation, and perceived ethnic discrimination were predictive of profile membership. Our exploratory analysis revealed stable profile membership across one year. Our findings highlight the multifaceted nature of youth political participation and underscore the need to broaden its understanding in research and policy.