The role of family experiences for adolescents’ readiness to use and participate in illegal political activity

This study used reactance theory as a starting point to explain what role a perceived undemocratic and controlling family has for adolescents’ attitudes toward illegal political activity. We also examined whether adolescents’ readiness to use illegal political means was related to actual political behavior, which has been lacking in research. Data came from a longitudinal two age-cohort sample of 720 adolescents (MC1 = 13.44; MC2 = 16.62) collected in a mid-sized city in Sweden. Results showed that adolescents who perceived their families as undemocratic and controlling increased in readiness to use illegal political means over time. In addition, older adolescents’ attitudes were associated with actual political behavior. This highlights the role a perceived family environment has on adolescents’ political identity development in today’s democratic societies