Evaluating the mediating effects of political efficacy, political trust and political knowledge in the relation between social media exposure and participatory politics amongst young adults in Hong Kong

Abstract

This study evaluated the relation between social media exposure and participatory politics with the mediators (political efficacy, political trust and political knowledge). 203 university students were as participants in this research (106 males, 97 females) from 18 to 23 years old in Hong Kong. A questionnaire was composed of social media exposure scale, political participation scale, political efficacy scale, political trust scale and political knowledge test. The results indicate that there is positive and significant relation between social media exposure and political participation, whereas political knowledge, political efficacy and political trust were functioned as meditating effect in this model. The special result of the relation between social media exposure, political trust and political participation has revealed the new political feature and political phenomenon in today's Hong Kong.