Which Generation is More Likely to Participate in Society? A Longitudinal Analysis

People’s social participation is deeply rooted in social change and development. Based on the World Values Survey data from 1990 to 2018, this study analyzed the temporal trend of social participation across successive cohorts in China using the hierarchical age-period-cohort-cross-classified random effects model. The results show that social participation continued to fall among Chinese born before 1972 and then successively rose in the following cohorts. However, this cohort effect was mainly attributed to the participation in Olsonian associations, and it could be partly explained by people’s education attainment. The cohort effects of participation in three Olsonian associations, including trade unions, political associations and professional organizations, were similar to that of general social participation. The significant increase in social participation in cohorts born after the 1970s is mainly attributed to China’s socioeconomic and educational development, and a favorable environment for social development is a critical factor for civic social participation.