Exploring Dimensions of Youth Political Participation and Its Alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals: An Exploratory Factor Analysis in Bangkok

Abstract

This study explores the latent dimensions of youth political participation in Bangkok and examines their alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). A survey of 450 respondents aged 18–29 was conducted using a 24-item instrument covering electoral, civic, and digital engagement. Data were analyzed using Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) with minimum residual extraction and Promax rotation. The results revealed a clear three-factor solution, comprising Electoral Participation, Civic Participation, and Digital Participation, which accounted for 64.6% of the total variance, with excellent model fit indices (RMSEA = 0.00, TLI = 1.01). The findings confirm that youth political participation is multidimensional, with digital activism emerging as an independent and robust repertoire of engagement. These dimensions align directly with SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), highlighting the crucial role of youth as key actors in sustainable governance. Policy recommendations are offered to strengthen youth participation across institutional, civic, and digital domains.