Does Contextual Change Affect Basic Human Values? A Dynamic Comparative Multilevel Analysis Across 32 European Countries

Abstract

This article examines the relationship of stable contextual differences and contextual change with the endorsement of Schwartz’s (1992) two basic value dimensions—Openness-to-Change versus Conservation and Self-Enhancement versus Self-Transcendence. Using six waves of the European Social Survey, an extension of multilevel analysis is used which combines both a cross-national comparative and a dynamic analysis of values. The hierarchical data structure and the covariates for value endorsement are defined at three distinct levels: a first level for individuals (with sociodemographic variables, such as age and gender), a second level for country-waves (with time-varying covariates), and a third level for country (with time-invariant covariates). The main aim is to determine if changes in contextual covariates over time are related to value differences between countries over and above contextual time-invariant covariates. High national wealth and low income inequality predicted high Self-Transcendence values and low Conservation values. Low national unemployment rates were associated with less conservatism. When entered simultaneously into the model, only time-invariant differences in gross domestic product (GDP) remained to be a significant predictor of Schwartz’s two basic value dimensions. Finally, we found that an increase in income inequality over time has a certain incremental effect on the endorsement of Conservation over Openness-to-Change values. There were no associations for changes in national wealth and unemployment rates, suggesting that for value endorsement, time-varying contextual effects are less important overall than time-invariant contextual effects.

Changes in Young Europeans’ Values During the Global Financial Crisis

“…Past research that examined only the higher order values and included the entire age range in ESS samples revealed little change in personal values (Tormos et al, 2017). The current study uncovered greater change by (a) studying young people, whose values are theoretically more malleable, and (b) by studying the 10 single values.…”

“…A study in the United Kingdom found increased security–conformity values after 2008 (Austin, 2016). A study across six waves of the European Social Survey (ESS) found high-value stability (Tormos, Vauclair, & Dobewall, 2017). However, these studies investigated the general (adult) population and did not consider the special impact the GFC could have on young people.…”

Cultural Value Orientations and Alcohol Consumption in 74 Countries: A Societal-Level Analysis

“…When examining the association between cultural value orientations and alcohol consumption at different years we used the same CVO values and so it might be argued that our results do not entirely accurately reflect the time specific associations. However, cultural value orientations are claimed to be stable over time ( Schwartz et al, 2000 ; Hofstede, 2001 ; Manfredo et al, 2017 ; Tormos et al, 2017 ) and this suggests that over a relatively short period of time using the same values of cultural value orientations is legitimate.…”

Valores bajo presión: estudio preliminar sobre el cambio de valores ante la crisis de la COVID-19 en España

“…Según esta teoría, el cambio de valores ocurre de forma lenta y progresiva, fundamentalmente a través del reemplazo generacional y de la asimilación y adaptación lenta a nuevas condiciones materiales, ambientales y culturales (Inglehart, 1977(Inglehart, , 1990Inglehart y Welzel, 2005). Esta estabilidad de los valores contrasta con la visión de otros estudios que los presentan como más sensibles a situaciones cambiantes (Tormos et al, 2017). Algunos estudios sugieren que los valores pueden ser alterados fruto de situaciones de transición relevantes como migraciones o sucesos fortuitos o traumáticos como guerras (Daniel et al, 2013).…”