Sixth “Youth in Germany” trend study: Current crises affect younger people more than older, but there is no generation conflict

What’s getting at young people between the ages of 14 and 29? According to the sixth edition of the trend study “Youth in Germany” published today, the COVID-19 pandemic continues to weigh especially heavily on young people. In the survey of nearly 1,000 participants, 46% report suffering from stress, another 35% report exhaustion, 33% self-doubt and 24% irritability. What is special about the new edition of the bi-annual study is a comparison between the emotional worlds of young people and the middle and older generations. For example, the study shows that in direct contrast to the youngest group, only 20% of the older generation, the 50- to 69-year-olds, report stress at all. Exhaustion, self-doubt and irritability in this group are also significantly lower than in the youngest generation (25%, 11% and 14% respectively).

"Young people feel like they’re in permanent crisis mode, and this leaves psychological scars," say authors Hertie School Professor of Public Health and Education Klaus Hurrelmann, study lead Simon Schnetzer, and researcher Kilian Hampel. "Mental health support services in schools, universities and companies must be expanded as quickly as possible to prevent depression, addictive behaviour and isolation from becoming entrenched among young people under particular stress."

Boomers and Gen Z have similar values

The study also finds similarities between generations when it comes to the labour market. Despite the often-proclaimed differences in values between older baby boomers and the younger Generation Z, the survey finds that disagreements are less pronounced than publicly discussed. Both generations see family, health and freedom as the most important areas of life; equally, honesty, reliability and helpfulness rank among the top three virtues for both generations.

Another issue that unites the young, middle-aged and older generations is concern about income and prosperity. Nearly 20% of the young people surveyed say they are at risk of poverty – more than in the previous study conducted six months ago. Alarmingly, only 11% of the young and 17% of baby boomers believe they will be able to live from their pensions in the future. At the same time, almost three quarters of respondents in all age groups reject an increase in the public retirement age – and this trend increases with age.

The results of the survey also debunk the myth of “lazy youth”. According to the authors, all generations have a strong motivation to work and a willingness to perform. However, it is the middle generation of 30- to 49-year-olds that is most motivated by the prospect of money and fun. What is also interesting: among the young workforce, almost 40% can imagine changing jobs in the near future.

Background of the trend study “Youth in Germany”

The trend study “Youth in Germany” is published every six months and is based on a representative online survey of the German-speaking population aged 14 to 29. The latest study was conducted between mid-February and mid-March 2023. The trend studies build on each other, follow the same methodology, are comparable and provide information on how young people are reacting to current political, economic and social events. The sixth study was the first to include the middle and older generations. In total, 1,012 people aged 14 to 29, 1,015 people aged 30 to 49 and 1,023 people aged 50 to 69 were surveyed. The study is supported by the Institut für Demoskopie Allensbach and Bilendie Respondi. Prof. Klaus Hurrelmann, Simon Schnetzer and Kilian Hampel jointly carried out the project.