Lithuanian children report loneliness and low self-efficacy
A study by Lithuania’s Health Sciences University finds that Lithuanian children and adolescents struggle with loneliness, low self-efficacy, and emotional challenges, with girls reporting higher anxiety levels and matching boys in risky behaviors like alcohol use and smoking.
Professor Kastytis Šmigelskas, who leads the HBSC (Health Behaviour in School-aged Children) survey in Lithuania, notes that some trends are global, but Lithuanian youth stand out for their emotional sensitivity, which adults may underestimate. The latest survey was conducted in 2022, with the next planned for this year.
Girls and young women in Lithuania report lower happiness, higher anxiety, and greater loneliness than boys, while also adopting traditionally male risk-taking behaviors. Šmigelskas suggests this may reflect a social shift where women feel pressure to “do everything men can,” a mindset that has extended into unhealthy habits.
Social media amplifies frustration among adolescents by highlighting what they lack, the professor adds. He proposes stricter controls, such as requiring ID verification for social media accounts starting at age 16, and supports clear national rules on smartphone use in schools. Some teens have tried limiting screen time on their own but failed, he says.
The HBSC survey, conducted every four years across 50 countries in Europe, North America, and Asia, includes Lithuanian students from grades 5 to 11. Long-term data shows Lithuanian adolescents consistently report higher loneliness, unhappiness, and low self-efficacy compared to peers in other countries.
Self-efficacy—an individual’s belief in their ability to solve problems—is a newer focus in international research. Lithuania tends to rank in the middle globally but leans toward the lower third in these specific areas.
Šmigelskas clarifies that loneliness is a distressing emotional state, distinct from chosen solitude. “Loneliness is when a person feels worse, oppressed,” he explains.
Source: LRT.lt