Youth Political Culture in the European Union: Welfare Institutions, Political Trust, and Participation

Youth policies in Europe have long aimed to enhance political, social, and economic inclusion. Yet young people remain vulnerable across key welfare dimensions, which can delay their transitions to adulthood and full citizenship. This study examines the political culture as shaped by trust in political and welfare-state institutions, interpersonal and social trust, and political engagement. It draws on data from the European Social Survey (2002–2023) covering the EU-28 countries, with a specific focus on young adults aged 18–29. A theory-driven hierarchical multiple regression was used, entering welfare state factors in Model 1; interpersonal, social, and individual characteristics in Model 2; and political power and activism variables in Model 3, all to explain trust in political institutions. The results show that satisfaction with welfare-state institutions is the strongest predictor of political trust, explaining 40.6% of the variance. Despite a low level of formal political participation, the findings indicate that structural and social factors—welfare satisfaction, interpersonal and social trust, and education—play a more substantial role in shaping youth political trust than direct participation. Overall, the results highlight that youth political culture is multidimensional and shaped not only by formal democratic engagement but also by institutional performance and social organisation.