HCRC Highlights | Human Capital Research Collaborative

New Publication: Community Engagement Boosts Midlife Well-Being in Cities

October 7, 2025

A recent study found that civic participation in early adulthood was positively associated with life satisfaction, psychological well-being, civic engagement, and years of education in midlife. Civic participation in early adulthood was negatively associated with conviction and incarceration experience by midlife. The significant associations between civic participation in early adulthood and psychological well-being and criminal involvement in midlife were fully accounted for by educational attainment at age 29. The findings suggest encouraging civic participation in early adulthood might promote well-being in midlife. Moreover, civic participation in early adulthood is connected with better psychological well-being and less criminal involvement in midlife via educational attainment.

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New Publications: Early Childhood Education and Civic Engagement in Midlife

August 2025

This study investigated the relation between the Child-Parent Center (CPC) program, an ECE program, and civic engagement in midlife. The sample was drawn from the Chicago Longitudinal Study (CLS, N = 1,098, 93.6% black; 54.5% women), a cohort of urban youth of color. Results showed that the CPC preschool is significantly associated with higher civic participation, electoral activities, and the Civic Engagement Index (CEI). Participants who attended both CPC preschool and school-age programs (PK-3) reported significantly higher electoral activities and a higher CEI. Educational attainment and juvenile arrest mediated the significant associations between CPC participation and civic engagement. Findings suggest that early childhood education programs may promote civic engagement in midlife among urban youth of color in high-poverty neighborhoods.

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