New Research: Social Change Agents Focus on the Future

Even in a world of instant gratification, adults across the globe are working toward long-term positive social change, according to Walden University’s 2014 Social Change Impact Report.

The study also found that:

• On average, 82% have done something to engage in positive social change in the past six months and donating money, goods or services is the top social change activity in Canada (51%), the U.S. (51%) and Germany (38%). Also, 28% of adults, on average, do something to engage in positive social change at least once a month.
• More adults say it is important that a person’s involvement with positive social change today contributes to long-term changes that improve people’s lives in the future (73%, on average) compared with those who say it is important to contribute to immediate changes that improve people’s lives now (61%, on average).
• More adults are also more likely to say their involvement with positive social change today contributes to long-term changes that will improve people’s lives in the future (58%, on average) compared with those who say it is likely their involvement contributes to immediate changes that improve people’s lives now (46%, on average).

Even though levels of engagement in social change remain steady overall and confidence levels are high, people around the world feel they could be doing more. On average, only 36% of adults are extremely or very satisfied with the frequency they are engaged in positive social change activities and also with how much they are helping to improve the lives of individuals and communities.