Temporal associations between character strengths and civic action: A daily diary study

Abstract

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, Mage = 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.