Psychosocial Wellbeing as a Predictor of Civic Leadership among Adolescents in Bangalore: A Systematic Review of International, Indian and Bengaluru Evidence

Abstract

Adolescence is a time when people are learning about who they're what they can do. It is also when they start to understand how to take part in things that affect their communities. However not much is known about how the mental and emotional health of teenagers affects their ability to become leaders in matters. This study looked at 50 articles that were published between 1984 and 2026. The purpose of this study was to investigate the existing literature on the role played by emotional well-being in the development of civic leadership and participation among teens with specific reference to India and Bengaluru. Articles were categorized into three groups (International, National and Bengaluru), verified according to criteria and analyzed using a common method. Five major themes emerged; First, establishing connections with family members, school and neighborhood is crucial prior to participation in activities. Secondly, indicators such as self-efficacy, self-concept, life skills and emotional intelligence are good predictors of participation. Thirdly, teenagers suffer from stress and depression which reduces their participation. Fourthly, participation in activities and well-being are bidirectional. Lastly, disparities in opportunities and program design are predictors of leadership. There is no literature on civic leadership as opposed to general civic participation. Majority of research done in India is one-off research and none of the research reviewed in this study used emotional well-being as a predictor of civic leadership among adolescents in Bengaluru.