The Well-Being of Young Generations in Italy: Comparing Political Participation of Native Youths and Youths from a Migrant Background

Livia Elisa Ortensi , Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna
Veronica Riniolo, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore di Milano

In this study, we analysed well-being of young people in Italy through the lens of their political participation. Scholars suggest that political participation is a crucial aspect of youth well-being and a key characteristic of a cohesive society. Focusing on individuals aged 14 to 35 still living with their family of origin, we compare Italian natives with their first- and second-generation migrant peers. We based our analysis on two different national household surveys, both carried out by the Italian National Institute of Statistics (ISTAT) in 2012: the survey on the ‘Condizione e integrazione sociale dei cittadini stranieri’ [Condition and Social Integration of Foreign Citizens] and the ‘Aspetti della vita quotidiana’ [Multipurpose Survey on the Aspects of Everyday Life]. Our results revealed that natives are more likely to be involved in politics compared to their migrant peers. However, the gap is fully explained by differences in socio-economic background and family political socialisation. When these aspects are controlled, data suggest that young people with migrant backgrounds are more likely to be involved in activities that reflect general interest in politics, such as discussing politics, seeking information on Italian politics, and listening to political debates, compared to their native counterparts.

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 Presented in Session P3. Poster Session Migration, Economics, Environment, Methods, History and Policy