Volunteering in three cohorts of Czech adolescents: the socialization roles of family, school, and associations

Abstract

This study aims to identify the proximal socialization processes that are consistently related to adolescents’ volunteering across changing macrosocial conditions. We focused on three groups of Czech adolescents: one living in an early post-communist society (1995) and two living in developed democratic conditions (2010 and 2019). Using structural equation modeling, we analyzed survey-based data from 14-year to 17-year-olds (Ns = 833, 893, and 2,836, respectively). Identical scales with established measurement invariance were used. The results showed that volunteering in all three groups was consistently predicted by prosocial parenting and adolescents’ associational involvement. Another consistent predictor was democratic school climate, although its effect gradually declined across the cohorts. Contrary to our expectations, we found no consistent effects of family cohesion, parental education, or family economic well-being. Overall, adolescents’ volunteering seems to be stimulated by environments promoting prosocial and democratic values and providing sufficient opportunities to become involved with different associations.