Continuity and change in values in midlife: testing the age stability hypothesis

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Sociology
• Gerontology

Background:

• The age stability hypothesis posits enduring adult values, contrasting with the situational influence hypothesis suggesting change driven by experiences.
• Research on value change is less extensive than on personality or attitude shifts.
• Terminal values may exhibit greater stability than instrumental values.

Purpose of the Study:

• To test the age stability versus situational influence hypotheses regarding adult value change.
• To examine the stability of both terminal and instrumental values over a 9-year period in middle-aged adults.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from A Study of Leisure During Adulthood (ASOLDA), a 9-year longitudinal panel study.
• Employed mixed-model regressions and descriptive statistics to analyze value changes.
• Measured global values using the List of Values (LOV) and leisure-specific instrumental values.

Main Results:

• Found significant, albeit modest, correlations for both terminal and instrumental values over time (autocorrelations .13–.23).
• Observed no linear or curvilinear trends indicating systematic value change.
• Life events and reflections on life structure did not correlate with value alterations.

Conclusions:

• Results support the age stability hypothesis, indicating consistent values in adulthood.
• Value stability was observed for both terminal and instrumental values.
• Suggests that stable values may aid adults in navigating challenging life circumstances.