Value development during adolescence: Dimensions of change and stability

Ella Daniel*, Maya Benish-Weisman

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

53 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objective: Value change stability was examined in a longitudinal sample of Jewish and Arab Israeli adolescents. Method: Adolescents (N = 520; 55.4% girls; M age = 13.76, SD = 0.52, at initial assessment) reported value importance at four annual evaluations. Results: Adolescents increased in values’ internal coherence and rank-order stability. Their value hierarchy was consistent and differentiated from the hierarchy of adults. Latent growth curve analyses indicated a similar pattern of mean-level value change for both ethnic groups: an increase in power and a decrease in tradition values; an increase in self-direction values among Jewish adolescents but not among Arab participants. Overall, the perceived importance of power, achievement, and self-direction values was more likely to increase than decrease, and the importance of conformity, tradition, security, and benevolence values was more likely to decrease than increase. Intraindividual changes in value importance followed the postulated pattern, as compatible values changed together, whereas conflicting values changed in opposite directions. Conclusions: This article suggests that values become better indicators of individual characteristics during adolescence. Adolescents increase their endorsement of self-focused values and decrease their valuation of other-focused values. They maintain the integrity of their value system despite value changes, confirming and validating value theory.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)620-632
Number of pages13
JournalJournal of Personality
Volume87
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 2019
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Keywords

  • adolescence
  • longitudinal study
  • value change
  • values

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