A Latent Class Analysis of Personal Values in Young Adults

Abstract

Human values and motivations are a powerful predictor of behavior, and Schwartz’s taxonomy offers a meaningful organizational system for robust value dimensions (Schwartz, 1992). Although values clearly represent a meaningful and culturally relevant dimension of individual differences, they remain poorly understood particularly in regards to how values co-occur and manifest within individuals. The purpose of the present study was to examine how values co-occur and manifest within individuals. A racially/ethnically diverse sample of 1, 308 undergraduate students (351 males, 'Mage '= 21.70, SD = 5.22) reported on their personal values and personality traits. Latent class analyses revealed support for two value classes: personal-focused (N = 210) and social-focused ('N' = 1098), which map onto hypotheses of value configurations based on Schwartz’s taxonomy (Schwartz, 1992). The value classes also exhibited differences based on racial/ethnic composition, gender composition, and personality trait association, also consistent with previous research. The current study provides evidence for two value types that manifest across two countries in North America.

Keywords

• Personal Values
• Personality Traits
• Racial Differences