- '20-somethings' claim to show higher ethical standards, greater accuracy and better social awareness than older generations, but tend to show poorer leadership, negotiation and planning skills.

- Baby Boomers found to be more adaptable and open to radical ideas, but less socially-confident, less ambitious and less socially adept than younger generations.

A new large scale personality study of different generations by people assessment firm Talent Q challenges the stereotype of 'surly and aggressive youth', but suggests the caricature of 'grumpy old men' – like One Foot in the Grave's Victor Meldrew – may not be entirely unfounded.

By comparing data on nearly 4,000 people across three different generations, it found that those in their early 20s – the so-called 'Generation Y' – claim higher ethical standards, greater attention to detail and more social skills than older generations.

Surprisingly they were also found to be less adaptable to variety and change, less likely to be good decision-makers, and less able to cope with a fast pace of work.

Generation Ys were also generally less organised, less keen on planning their workload and less efficient than other generations.

"The days where a person has a job for life are long gone, so it's perverse that the 'Generation Y' psyche appears to show less adaptability, efficiency and dynamism than older generations," said Roger Holdsworth, Talent Q's Chairman.

"The 20-somethings we studied were also less resilient, less confident at negotiation and decision-making, less influential in a leadership capacity and less able or willing to follow the rules – all of which is concerning for the future.

"But there were positives too. In stark contrast to popular perceptions of surly, selfish and aggressive youth, the younger generation claims to have a stronger ethical code, is more socially aware and more in tune with other's behaviour than their elders."

The research also explodes the stereotypes that older generations are conservative and 'set in their ways'. Instead, it found the 'Baby Boomer' generation were the most likely to adopt new techniques and most likely to favour radical ideas.

However, the same generation were also found to be less socially confident, less ambitious and less likely to fit in with different types of people.

"Perhaps because of growing up in the 1960s, radicalism still shapes the 'Baby Boomer' psyche. They remain more adaptable to change than younger people – very much confounding the view that 'You can't teach an old dog new tricks'.

"But Baby Boomers also, perhaps understandably, show signs of easing down as they approach retirement, showing less ambition and competitiveness than other generations.

"The research also suggests the stereotype of grumpy old men – and women – has a grain of truth to it. Our studies found that the Baby Boomers were generally less socially adept and comfortable with different people than younger generations. In other words, the 'Victor Meldrew' caricature actually appears closer to the mark than we might think."