CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AMONG SMALL-GROUP PARTICIPANTS: CREATING COMMUNITY OR SELF-ABSORPTION?

Abstract

Small support groups are a relatively new form of voluntary association appearing in the American landscape. Examining the larger implications of the “small group movement” for civic life has led some to see an overall positive effect on wider community activities, while others have viewed small-group participants as self-absorbed and withdrawing from participation in civic activities. Using a national sample of small-group participants, we examine the effects on civic engagement stemming from the social characteristics of participants, the type of small group (religious, secular, or mixed), and the opportunity to develop social capital through participation in small groups. Findings indicate that members of religious small groups do not actively engage in civic affairs, but members of secular and mixed groups do participate in a broad range of civic activities. Differences in social participation can be attributed to characteristics of the small groups (formalization and cohesion) and to some characteristics of members (education). When small support groups offer members the opportunity to acquire civic skills, to exchange information, and to develop self-efficacy, there is more interest and activity in civic affairs.

We thank Roger Finke, Jo Ann Miller, and Eric R. Wright for helpful comments and assistance on an earlier draft of this paper, and Robert Wuthnow for generously making this data available.

Notes

t—Based on chi-square test statistic.

tt—Based on two-tailed t-tests for difference between the means for members of secular, mixed, and religious group types.

^a Significant differences between religious and secular groups, with ∗p < .05, ∗∗p < .01, ∗∗∗p < .001.

^b Significant differences between secular and mixed groups, with ∗p < .05, ∗∗p < .01, ∗∗∗p < .001.

^c Significant differences between religious and mixed groups, with ∗p < .05, ∗∗p < .01, ∗∗∗p < .001.

^a Significant differences between religious and secular groups, with ∗p < .05, ∗∗p < .01, ∗∗∗p < .001.

^b Significant differences between secular and mixed groups, with ∗p < .05, ∗∗p < .01, ∗∗∗p < .001.

^c Significant differences between religious and mixed groups, with ∗p < .05, ∗∗p < .01, ∗∗∗p < .001.

∗p < .05, ∗∗p < .01, ∗∗∗p < .001.