The Connection Between Basic Personal Values and Psychological Adaptation to Global Digital Risks

Abstract

<p>The study is relevant to understanding the predictors of successful adaptation to the risks of digitalization of society. The goal is to study the connection between personal values and the characteristics of digital adaptation. The objectives included identifying groups differing in psychological adaptation to digitalization; analyzing differences in basic and social beliefs and value orientations among these groups; and conducting a comparative study of age-related characteristics of psychological adaptation to digitalization in youth and middle adulthood. The research methods included the following: the “Psychological Adaptation to the Risks of Digitalization” questionnaire (E.P. Belinskaya, O.A. Karabanova, O.A. Tikhomandritskaya, etc.); “Faith in a Competitive World” and “Faith in a Dangerous World” (DW-S) by J. Jakkita (adapted by O.A. Gulevich and others); the “Belief in a Just World” technique, adapted by S.K. Nartova-Bochaver and others; “Scale of Basic Personal Beliefs”, adapted by M.A. Padun, A.V. Kotelnikova; “Portrait Questionnaire of Values” by S. Schwartz; a new questionnaire of tolerance to uncertainty (T.V. Kornilova et al.). The sample consisted of 408 respondents aged 18 to 55 years, of whom 49,7% were men and 50,3% were women. Three groups were identified based on their adaptation to digital risks: “adapted,” “anxious-maladapted,” and “non-adapted”. Significant differences were found in basic and social beliefs among respondents of these groups. The hypothesis that basic values are connected to successful adaptation was confirmed. Age-related features of adaptation to digitalization have been identified. The heterogeneity of adaptation to digitalization according to various criteria has been revealed. The hypothesis about the connection between values of self-overcoming and change with adaptation success was confirmed. The connection of adaptation success with the developmental tasks of youth and middle maturity and activities relevant to them was revealed.</p>