“We need their help”: Encouraging and discouraging adolescent civic engagement through Photovoice

Racial, ethnic, and class-based gaps in civic engagement may leave many Latino/a adolescents without a key avenue for positive development. While Photovoice, a community-based participatory research method based in photography, is typically used in research, it also offers potential as an intervention to empower and strengthen Latino/a adolescents' civic engagement. A mixed‐method study design examined the impacts of Photovoice on 15 high school students. While pre- and post-test survey data suggest a limited impact on adolescents' civic attitudes and behaviors, rich focus group data indicate increased self-efficacy, empowerment, community attachment, community awareness, and intended civic engagement. Yet, results also indicate substantial student frustration at the perceived hypocrisy of adults in their community toward civic involvement.

► A mixed-method study examines viability of Photovoice as a youth civic intervention. ► Complex links to efficacy, community awareness, attachment, empowerment, engagement ► Youth participants became more aware of external limitations to engagement. ► Participants felt highly discouraged by lack of positive adult civic role modeling. ► Study adds insight into impacts of parents and teachers on youth civic engagement.