当代中国青年“躺平”了吗? : 基于调查数据的探索分析

Abstract

"Tang ping(Laying flat)" is currently one of the prominent social issues in China. It is considered as a response by the younger generation to a social environment of increasing social competition, widening inequality, and class solidifying. Using nationwide survey data，this paper aims to diagnose the true status of Chinese youth's perceptions of "Tang ping" by analyzing the intergenerational differences, cross-year, and intragenerational differences. According to the analysis, there are significant generational differences between contemporary Chinese youth and the older generation concerning their future self-confidence, attitudes related to "Tang ping", and their perceptions of key factors affecting personal achievements. When compared to the same generation a decade ago, significant temporal changes are evident, along with intragenerational disparities within the youth population. In contrast to 2010, Chinese youth in 2020 exhibit a more positive and optimistic attitude and display a growing diversity in their value pursuits. Furthermore, the growing complexity of the social competitive landscape and the diversity of influencing factors among today's youth have been confirmed. Additionally, there is an expanding disparity in perceptions between the current Chinese youth and the older generation, with the youth forming a sense of "relative pessimism." This suggests that the phenomenon of "Tang ping" is likely to become more widespread in response to the future development and changes in Chinese society.