Research on the subject - Youth anxiety levels on the rise as they seek out assistance.
Teenagers and the Urgent Political Crises: A Snapshot of the Existential Woes Facing 14- to 17-Year-Olds
According to a recent survey conducted by Sinus, teenagers are growing more concerned about significant political issues that our world faces. However, despite these concerns, they remain optimistic that they can find solutions. The study shows that although they may feel powerless, they refuse to give up.
"The crises are mounting, and yet these youngsters maintain their faith in their ability to tackle them. This is intriguing," says Marc Calmbach, one of the study's authors. He points out that "they hold on to a feeling of hope." In fact, 84% of the surveyed teenagers expressed satisfaction or high satisfaction with their daily lives.
The Sinus study has been running since 2008. It is not a typical large-scale survey; instead, it delves deeply into the lives of 72 teenagers aged 14-17 from various types of schools and diverse backgrounds. Calmbach believes that the depth of the study's insights applies to the nearly 3.1 million individuals belonging to the same age group.
Security and Stability
One of the themes that emerged is the desire for stability, security, and a secure income. The longing for these elements might be seen as something from a conventional or bourgeois lifestyle. However, the trend of increasing tolerance towards different cultures and lifestyles was also observed. The research revealed that "not only tolerance in terms of various cultures is being emphasized as something self-evident; acceptance of various life models and role models (diversity) becomes particularly apparent."
Openness and Resilience
For the most part, these teenagers displayed tolerance and acceptance of those with non-binary gender identities. The researchers observed that discrimination is prevalent in their daily experiences. For example, teenagers were open about the biases they were subjected to or witnessed at school. They express heightened sensitivities towards social inequality, particularly in terms of future opportunities. As Tim Gensheimer, the co-author, puts it, "The youth are aware without being 'woke.'
The Politically-Challenged Generation
These young people have experimented with various political entities, as they were questioned in 2023, before the European election results were available. The 16% of the teenagers who voted for the AfD can be seen as a volatile behavior. Calmbach maintains that what we can expect in two years "would look vastly different." Essentially, young people are not tied to a fixed worldview and are experimenting. The established parties have failed to offer solutions, leading to the erosion of trust.
The Digital Generaton
What sets this generation apart is their reliance on social networks. They cannot fathom a life without them. While they acknowledge the negative effects of excessive screen time and social media usage, they have plans for the future: "If I ever become a parent, my children won't spend all their time in front of screens," Calmbach said.
The members of this generation are actively participating in politics but are skeptical when it comes to the capacity of politicians to offer solutions. As more crises unfold, this may be a troubling sign for our future.
