Lithuanian Study Reveals Changes in Youth: From "Challenge" to "Security"? Where Are Generation Z's Values Heading?

A study from Lithuania analyzed changes in the values of young people using ESS data from 2010 to 2020 (n=11,199). It found that the "Independent EU Generation," which grew up after 1990, shows a stronger inclination towards conservatism (safety, order, tradition) and also exhibits high levels of **self-transcendence (orientation towards others and the community)**. This challenges the conventional notion that "youth = more liberal and bold." Historical contexts (transition society, weak institutional trust) and multiple crises may have promoted risk aversion and community orientation. On social media, information sharing by researchers and universities is predominant, and there is a general consensus regarding the region's conservatism. While caution is needed in generalizing from a single-country study, it offers practical implications for policy, education, and business to design opportunities for challenges, assuming the establishment of psychological safety and community foundations.