the world is as big as you put into it
The average Hungarian adult belongs to only about 2–3 different communities in their lifetime outside of family and the workplace.¹ This makes the impressions that our everyday lives have on us incredibly important. A joint study by NIQ, Krisztián Steigervald, and Dreher reveals that, when changing jobs, most experienced employees adapt easily to the new environment, like their colleagues, and are hard to rattle—while their younger counterparts are much more sensitive to the workplace atmosphere.
We complain without even realizing it
Where do young Hungarians lose their optimism? That’s the question Dreher explored in a representative² study conducted in partnership with research company NIQ and generational researcher Krisztián Steigervald. According to the findings, the majority of Hungarian employees describe themselves as reliable and calm individuals who pay attention to others’ feelings and are not prone to complaining. Younger colleagues, on the other hand, are far more likely to experience anxiety, stress, and melancholy. Based on the generational researcher’s observations, they tend to lose the initial enthusiasm they had at the start of their careers by the time they reach their second or third workplace, usually after a series of prompt workplace changes.
Most people in Hungary are satisfied with their job and like their colleagues. Despite this, one in three respondents reported that their coworkers regularly complain about their own work. Many are bothered by this attitude, and several feel that it negatively affects their mood. This is especially true for the 18–35 age group, who are most discouraged when colleagues take a negative view of their environment.
Interestingly, far fewer respondents—just 25%—see themselves as inclined toward negativity, and this is particularly true of those over 55. That’s one reason Dreher decided to launch a dedicated campaign to help young people maintain their optimism and, through a video series, call attention to the fact that sometimes we don’t even realize we’re highlighting the negatives to newcomers, even when we actually like our workplace.
Positive words matter
Forty-three percent of respondents said that—aside from financial compensation—positive feedback motivates them the most in day-to-day life. This is especially true for those over 55 (53%), but—surprisingly—less so for younger people (35%). Yet, Krisztián Steigervald’s insights offer an entirely new perspective on these results:
Until the end of the 20th century, so-called ‘parental authority’ was the general style of upbringing, meaning people believed more in motivation rooted in criticism. In contrast, over the past 20–30 years—with responsive parenting and especially on digital platforms—positive feedback has become more common. In these cases, praise has turned into more of an expectation, an integral part of everyday life. Having it doesn’t necessarily lift you up, but lacking it can really bring you down.
The more experienced we are, the easier it is to fit in
The study also took a closer look at how people function in groups and how easily they adapt. Regardless of age, 64% of Hungarians say they had no problem fitting in during primary and secondary school; among college and university students, this figure rises to 72%. At workplaces, the rate of positive experiences increases even further: 77% said they fit in easily at their very first job, and 82% feel similarly about their current position.
The next life stage where adults again find themselves entering new communities in large numbers—outside of work—is typically related to having children. Two-thirds of Hungarians say they adapt easily to the playground scene or to parent groups at daycare centers, kindergartens, or schools. This is much less true for physical laborers (60%) and those over 55 (42%), who likely join these communities via their grandchildren.
Solo hobbies are the most popular
Outside of family and work, hobbies are another common place for people to meet new acquaintances. According to Krisztián Steigervald, both Hungarian and international research show two trends: the popularity of sports has grown significantly over the last 20–25 years, but since the COVID-19 pandemic, the desire to belong to a group has decreased. Dreher’s study confirms this: 77% of respondents regularly engage in a hobby, most often individual sports or cooking/baking (42% each). Next in popularity are games (31%) and arts-related activities (24%). Team sports—by definition a group pursuit—are listed as a hobby by fewer than one in five Hungarians.