Individual and generational value change in an adult population, a 12-year longitudinal panel study
Abstract A long-standing conundrum is whether age differences in personality are due to generation, or internal change with age. Using a representative sample from The Netherlands (N = 1599; aged 16–84 at the start), the current research focuses on human values (an important aspect of personality),...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2022-10-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-22862-1 |
| _version_ | 1811192382214897664 |
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| author | Ingmar Leijen Hester van Herk Anat Bardi |
| author_facet | Ingmar Leijen Hester van Herk Anat Bardi |
| author_sort | Ingmar Leijen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract A long-standing conundrum is whether age differences in personality are due to generation, or internal change with age. Using a representative sample from The Netherlands (N = 1599; aged 16–84 at the start), the current research focuses on human values (an important aspect of personality), following the same individuals for 12 years. We distinguish four generations, Silent-generation, Baby-boomers, Generation-X and Millennials. We found clear differences across generations in human values, with Millennials, e.g., valuing hedonism more than all other generations. Furthermore, value change over time was mainly evident in Millennials. Some values (achievement and conformity) were stable within individuals and between generations. Change over time across most values occurred mainly in Millennials, but not for all values. Some values were stable in adults (e.g., hedonism, conformity) while other values still increased (e.g., security, self-direction) or decreased (e.g., power, stimulation) in importance. In adults older than Millennials change decreased and change was absent in the oldest generation. Hence, age differences in values seem both due to generation, as well as internal change, although the latter mainly in young adults. These value changes over time may have implications for developments in societal values in the long run. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T23:51:46Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-597ce5b9d70649938eb637a9a53175ed |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T23:51:46Z |
| publishDate | 2022-10-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-597ce5b9d70649938eb637a9a53175ed2022-12-22T03:56:27ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222022-10-0112111210.1038/s41598-022-22862-1Individual and generational value change in an adult population, a 12-year longitudinal panel studyIngmar Leijen0Hester van Herk1Anat Bardi2School of Business and Economics, Vrije Universiteit AmsterdamSchool of Business and Economics, Vrije Universiteit AmsterdamRoyal Holloway University of LondonAbstract A long-standing conundrum is whether age differences in personality are due to generation, or internal change with age. Using a representative sample from The Netherlands (N = 1599; aged 16–84 at the start), the current research focuses on human values (an important aspect of personality), following the same individuals for 12 years. We distinguish four generations, Silent-generation, Baby-boomers, Generation-X and Millennials. We found clear differences across generations in human values, with Millennials, e.g., valuing hedonism more than all other generations. Furthermore, value change over time was mainly evident in Millennials. Some values (achievement and conformity) were stable within individuals and between generations. Change over time across most values occurred mainly in Millennials, but not for all values. Some values were stable in adults (e.g., hedonism, conformity) while other values still increased (e.g., security, self-direction) or decreased (e.g., power, stimulation) in importance. In adults older than Millennials change decreased and change was absent in the oldest generation. Hence, age differences in values seem both due to generation, as well as internal change, although the latter mainly in young adults. These value changes over time may have implications for developments in societal values in the long run.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-22862-1 |
| spellingShingle | Ingmar Leijen Hester van Herk Anat Bardi Individual and generational value change in an adult population, a 12-year longitudinal panel study Scientific Reports |
| title | Individual and generational value change in an adult population, a 12-year longitudinal panel study |
| title_full | Individual and generational value change in an adult population, a 12-year longitudinal panel study |
| title_fullStr | Individual and generational value change in an adult population, a 12-year longitudinal panel study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Individual and generational value change in an adult population, a 12-year longitudinal panel study |
| title_short | Individual and generational value change in an adult population, a 12-year longitudinal panel study |
| title_sort | individual and generational value change in an adult population a 12 year longitudinal panel study |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-22862-1 |
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