Grebennikova O.V. The problem of life satisfaction in the context of socialization of generation Z and generation Alpha adolescents

In the context of adolescence, characterized by the active formation of social ties and self-discovery, life satisfaction acquires special significance. It makes the adolescent more open and sociable, helps build healthy relationships, and motivates self-improvement. Feeling good about themselves, adolescents are actively involved in the educational and cognitive process, successfully adapts to adult life.

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between life satisfaction with satisfaction with school life, self-control of communication, and having friends among Generation Z and Generation Alpha adolescents. 

The following empirical methods were used: Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS), a short screening self-questionnaire designed to survey respondents about the degree of subjective satisfaction with their life. Proposed by E. Diener, R.A. Emmons, R.J. Larsen and S. Griffin in 1985, adapted and validated by D.A. Leontiev and E.N. Osin in 2003 in Russian; the method “Study of student satisfaction with school life” (adapted by L.I. Aksenova); M. Snyder's diagnostic technique for assessing self-control of communication; an additional survey on the presence or absence of friends among adolescents (author's). Statistical processing of the obtained data was performed with the help of the SPSS 26 program, using the nonparametric Mann-Whitney U-criterion and r-Spearman correlation coefficient, descriptive statistics, and analysis of variance with Bonferroni correction. The study involved 200 respondents (n = 200) aged 12 to 18 years, of whom 100 were adolescents aged 15–18 years (generation Z) and 100 were adolescents aged 12–14 years (generation Alpha), studying in general education schools in Moscow. 

The results showed that life satisfaction, satisfaction with school life, and communicative control are higher in Generation Z adolescents than in Generation Alpha adolescents. 

The study confirms that in Generation Z adolescents, the higher the level of life satisfaction, the higher the satisfaction with school life, communicative control, and the need to expand friendship contacts. In Generation Alpha adolescents, life satisfaction is positively correlated only with satisfaction with school life. Adolescents of both generations are more satisfied with life when they have friends than when they do not, which indicates a pronounced age-related psychological feature.

Key words: life satisfaction, socialization, adolescents, Generation Z, Generation Alpha, peers, communicative control

For citation: Grebennikova, O.V. (2025). The problem of life satisfaction in the context of socialization of adolescents of generation Z and generation Alpha. New Psychological Research, No. 2, 109–129. DOI: 10.51217/npsyresearch_2025_05_02_06

Acknowledgement 

The study was carried out within the framework of the state task FNRE-2024-0016 «Psychological effects of digitalization of educational environment: opportunities for cognitive and personal development and risks of socialization».