Dutch adolescents' narratives of their citizenship efficacy: "Hypothetically, I could have an impact"

Previous educational studies have investigated the impact of skills and contextual influences on adolescents’ citizenship participation and efficacy. Yet, we know little about how adolescents give meaning to their citizenship efficacy. This study explores the narratives of 27 adolescents in the Netherlands on their citizenship efficacy. A thematic analysis of focus groups and individual interviews leads to the distinction of four citizenship efficacy types: the civic efficacy type, the civil and political efficacy type, the civil efficacy type, and the passive efficacy type. This typology reveals how only one type cares about one’s civic efficacy, and how the passive efficacy type does not care about one’s citizenship efficacy. Based on our conceptualisation of citizenship efficacy and the findings of our empirical study, we describe several recommendations for the further development of empirical studies and educational programmes on citizenship efficacy in the Netherlands and internationally.