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PROTOCOL for systematic review exploring young people’s perspectives on their role in activism

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This is a protocol for a systematic review.

Review Question: What are young people's perspectives on their role in activism?

The UK is one of the most socioeconomically unequal high-income countries in the world (Grandhi, 2016). These inequalities affect access to key resources that are needed to promote good health and well-being. The value of understanding young people’s perspectives on inequalities has been increasingly recognised as important in helping to shape policy that resonates with their experiences (Barnados, 2023; Backett-Milburn et al. 2003). Across a broad range of issues,  researchers have attempted to understand youth perspectives by focusing on their activism, a key method of youth participation. Activism can be broadly defined as people engaging in activities which aim to generate social change (Anderson, 2011). Interest has grown in young people's involvement in activism in recent years due to a reported 'youthquake' in social movements driven by a backdrop of austerity, instability and environmental crisis (Sloam et al. 2022). However, whilst a growing body of work has emerged on young people's activism for specific causes, most notably the environment and climate crisis (Nairn et al, 2024); there has been limited work attempting to understand youth activism, including young people's role and the challenges they face on a broad level.

Understanding young people's role in activism is particularly relevant in the recent context with studies showing a growing distrust between young people and the government, with the prevailing argument that the policies affecting young people's lives are created without an understanding of lived experience (Goodwin, 2024). Understanding and incorporating youth voice in policy formation and decision-making is critical, but whilst current work goes some way to explore specific activist causes it does not go far enough to understand the wider picture of young people’s role in activism including the challenges and barriers they might face. This is important as such understanding could enable the development of pathways of youth engagement and incorporating youth voices in ways that also protect them. 


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