Youth Studies: Lithuania

Political Alignment and Family Dynamics Among Young Lithuanians

The relationship between youth and their parents' political beliefs can provide deep insights into generational dynamics and societal cohesion. In Lithuania, Friedrich Ebert Foundation's 2023 Youth Study sheds light on how young people align with their parents' political views and how this impacts their family interactions.

Comparative Political Alignment in Central and Eastern Europe and the Baltic Countries

When comparing the political alignment of young people with their parents across Central and Eastern Europe and the Baltic countries, Lithuania stands out. The graph below illustrates that of all countries in the analysis, Lithuania had the lowest level of youth whose political beliefs are "quite" and "very much" aligned with those of their parents, at only 23.49%.

Impact on Family Dynamics in Lithuania

The second graph explores how political alignment affects family dynamics in Lithuania. The survey reveals a striking statistic: 40.9% of young Lithuanians whose beliefs do "not at all" align with their parents "never" talk politics with their family. This indicates a significant impact on communication within families based on political differences.

In general, the data shows a moderate level of compatibility in political beliefs between youth and their parents. However, those whose political beliefs do not align with their parents are less likely to discuss politics within their family, suggesting that political discord may lead to reduced political dialogue at home.

Key Takeaways

• Lithuania has the lowest level of youth whose political beliefs align closely with their parents among the surveyed countries, at 23.49%.
• A significant portion of young Lithuanians whose beliefs do not align with their parents avoid political discussions, highlighting the impact of political discord on family communication.
• For most youth and their parents, there is a moderate level of compatibility in political beliefs, suggesting that while political alignment is not perfect, it is not entirely absent.

On the Data

The data was taken from the 2023 study "Personal Optimism, National Pessimism, Trust in Europe. A Comparison of Values, Attitudes, and Plans of Young People in the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Slovakia". It investigates the opinions of people aged 14-29 years on a broad range of topics such as education, employment, political participation, family relationships, and values. Read the full study here.