Can online participation on issues of asylum seeking lead to action? Understanding the intent to act

Figures & data

Table 1. Characteristics of the sample (N = 3,978)

	Total	Facebook (n = 2,416)	Newsletter (n = 1,692)	OR[t]	95% CI	p value
Socio‐economic status
High	51.5	46	58.7	0.6	0.5, 0.7	<.001
Middle	32.0	35.1	27.7	1.4	1.2, 1.6	<.001
Low	13.6	14.9	11.8	1.3	1.1, 1.6	n.s.
Female	81.7	85	77.1	1.7	1.4, 2.0	<.001
Mean age [media; SD; range]	48.1[48; 15.9; 18–95]	45.0	52.4	14.6	—	<.001
Born in Australia	76.6	75.7	77.8	0.9	0.8, 1.0	n.s.
Employment status
Employed, working full time	33.7	36.2	30.4	1.3	1.1, 1.5	<.001
Employed, working part time	22.4	22.4	22.4	1.0	0.9, 1.2	n.s.
Not working	3.9	4.0	3.8	1.1	0.8, 1.5	n.s.
Primary carer	3.9	4.7	2.7	1.8	1.2, 2.5	n.s.
Retired	19.1	13.3	27	0.4	0.3, 0.5	<.001
Studying	8.5	10.6	5.7	1.9	1.5, 2.5	<.001
Education
Postgraduate degree	39.2	35	45	0.5	0.6, 0.7	<.001
Postsecondary-diploma/certificate	15.3	17.1	12.7	1.4	1.2, 1.7	<.001
Some postsecondary	4.9	5.8	3.6	1.6	1.2, 2.2	n.s.
Undergraduate degree	33.6	33.3	33.9	1.0	0.9, 1.1	n.s.
Completed high school	4.8	6.1	3.1	2.0	1.4, 2.8	<.001
Less than high school	2.3	2.8	1.6	1.7	1.1, 2.7	n.s.
No religion	47.8	48.8	46.4	1.1	1.0, 1.2	n.s.
Religious beliefs somewhat/very important to way of life	27.6	26.9	28.7	0.9	0.8, 1.1	n.s.
‘Left’ political views	75.6	74.7	76.7	0.9	0.8, 1.0	n.s.

Table 2. Activism on asylum seekers (N = 3,787)

	Total	Facebook (n = 2,416)	Newsletter (n = 1,692)	OR[t]	95% CI	p value
In the previous 12-months
Signed an Internet petition	91.7	93.3	89.6	1.6	1.3, 2.0	<.001
Shared social media	77.8	92.9	58.2	9.4	7.8, 11.4	<.001
Written to a politician	56	54.4	58.0	0.9	0.8, 1.0	n.s.
Took part in a campaign	44.4	42.6	46.7	0.8	0.7, 1.0	n.s.
Donated money	44.3	29.8	63.3	0.25	0.21, 0.28	<.001
Demonstration	43	41	45.8	0.8	0.7, 0.9	n.s.
Signed a paper petition	39.8	37.4	43	0.8	0.7, 0.9	n.s.
Donated food or material	17.5	13.1	23.3	0.5	0.4, 0.6	<.001
Written to an asylum seeker	9.8	7.2	13.2	0.5	0.4, 0.6	<.001
Workplace support	9.1	7.2	11.5	0.5	0.4, 0.6	<.001
Volunteered	6.8	2.6	12.2	0.4	0.3, 0.5	<.001
Fundraised	4	2.3	6.2	0.4	0.3, 0.5	<.001
Catering/cleaning	3.2	2.1	4.7	0.4	0.3, 0.6	<.001
In the forthcoming 12-months^2
Donate money	57.1	46.1	71.4	0.3	0.29, 0.39	<.001
Donate food or material	45.8	42.7	49.8	0.8	0.7, 0.9	<.001
Volunteer	25.9	22.8	29.8	0.7	0.6, 0.8	<.001
Catering/cleaning	14.9	11.9	18.8	0.6	0.5, 0.7	<.001
Workplace support	13.5	12.2	15.2	0.8	0.6, 0.9	n.s.
Fundraise	10.5	9.6	11.8	0.8	0.6, 1.0	n.s.

Indicates of those who had engaged in an activism action in the previous 12-months.