Youths express concern and a sense of helplessness.
What's the emotional state of German teenagers aged 14 to 17? This is a question that's been pondered by the Sinus survey for years. The latest findings are in, revealing a group that's both content and worried.
Sinus study shows that young folks are growing increasingly concerned about topics like climate change and racism. However, they feel powerless in the face of these problems. They don't trust the political system to find solutions either. Insights from the recent Sinus Youth Study 2024, held in Berlin, underscore this trend. Yet, an astounding 84% of the surveyed teens aged 14 to 17 are happy or very happy with their daily lives.
Study author Marc Calmbach sees this as the most shocking discovery: "In the midst of all these crises, youth are managing to maintain their optimistic outlook – this is surprising." Thomas Krüger, President of the Federal Center for Political Education, also commented on this generation: "They've only experienced crises throughout their lives. This doesn't foster pessimism but 'conditioned optimism'." The study reveals that despite the many challenges, young people believe everything will somehow work out.
Anxieties related to migration concerns and the subsequent rise in racism and discrimination weigh heavily on many youths. They're also stressed about transitioning into professional and adult life.
Clinging to Traditions and Values
The outlook of the younger generation is grounded in realism and a strong sense of belonging. Their ideal lifestyles include stability, security, and family appreciation. They yearn for a stable home, happy partnership, children, pets, a solid job, and money for a comfortable existence.
Despite the world's diversity, tolerance towards different cultures is standard. They're also accepting of diverse lifestyles and role models. Teens are deeply committed to gender equality, especially when individuals declare themselves as non-binary. Moreover, they're well-aware of persistent gender stereotypes and expectations.
99% of teenagers spend a lot of time online. These platforms are their primary source of information. They recognize that there's a danger of receiving incorrect information. However, they usually don't verify the reliability of the information themselves.
The Sinus study has been ongoing since 2008. It's not a wide-ranging query with hundreds of participants but an in-depth interview. In this survey, 72 teens aged 14 to 17 from various school forms and population groups were interviewed extensively for several hours about their regular life, goals, values, and future plans. According to Calmbach, this study's uniqueness lies in its depth of questioning, even with its small sample size. As such, the results hold relevance for the 3.1 million kids in this age bracket.
Since the teenagers were interviewed in 2023, there's no direct response regarding the outcome of the European election, according to Krüger's perspective. Calmbach connects the 16% of young AfD voters to this: "This is a volatile behavior; I'm certain it will look drastically different in two years." The youth didn't have a fixed right-wing mindset; they were just trying things out. On the downside, established parties often failed to meet their expectations, said Sinus Institute's managing director.
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In the context of Discrimination, the Sinus Study reveals that anxieties related to migration and subsequent rise in racism are affecting many German youths, contributing to their sense of vulnerability and helplessness.
