Age Differences in Engagement in Hong Kong Anti-Extradition Bill Protest: The Role of Self-Relevance. (16th December 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wong, Tze Kiu; Tse, Dwight C K; Fung, Nicole Long Ki; Fung, Helene
• Is Part Of: Innovation in aging. Volume 4(2020)Supplement 1
• Page Start: 340
• Page End: 340
• Publication Date: 2020-12-16
• Subjects: Aging -- Periodicals; Gerontology -- Periodicals; 612.67
• DOI: 10.1093/geroni/igaa057.1090
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2399-5300

Abstract

Abstract: Older adults were found to be less involved in non-institutional political actions than younger people did, and our previous work found that self-relevance mediated this age difference. In this study, we attempted to replicate the finding in a real-life social movement. We recruited 1037 participants (aged 18-84) during the anti-extradition bill movement in Hong Kong in September 2019. They responded to questions of how relevant and important the movement was to them, and whether they had taken part in a list of 8 political actions (e.g. signing petitions, joining rallies). Older adults indeed participated less in the movement compared with younger adults, and the age difference could partly be attributed to a lower perceived relevance of the movement. The finding suggested emphasizing on self-relevance as a potential way to promote political participation in older adults.