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A Multilevel Analysis of News and Communication Influences on Political Engagement in Sub-Saharan Africa

Bibliographic Data

ID6430163
AuthorsOluseyi Adegbola (0000-0001-6243-1963, College of Communication & Information, University of Tennessee Knoxville , Knoxville, TN), Mike O’neil (Office of Innovative Technologies, University of Tennessee Knoxville , Knoxville, TN)
Year2025
Volume37
Issue2
Publication date2025-01-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Journal of Public Opinion Research (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0954-2892 • E-ISSN: 1471-6909
PublisherOxford University Press (OUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1093/ijpor/edaf011
OpenAlexW4409386722
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited97

Research shows that access to public affairs information can enhance political engagement, yet studies have paid less attention to how variations in country attributes may shape the relationship between information and political engagement in the global south. Drawing on a differential gains framework, this study examines associations between news use, political discussion, and political engagement across 30 African countries (N = 42,684) varying in their level of democratic and economic development. While political talk positively predicts diverse forms of political engagement, the relationship between news use and engagement is more nuanced. Multilevel analyses show weak positive and negative moderating effects of country-level variables. Findings contribute to the growing research and theorizing about political engagement in sub-Saharan Africa and suggest areas for further exploration

Geography · Multilevel model · Political science · Politics · Statistics · Mathematics · Media Influence and Politics · Media Studies and Communication · Social Media and Politics · Law

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Unique citing works1
Citations per year1
Citation span2026 - 2026 (1)
Citation velocitycurrent
Highly citedNo
Citation typesNeutral: 1

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