Longitudinal Relations between Values and Well-Being during University Studies in Three Countries

Personal values and well-being are somewhat related, but how does the relationship unfold throughout time? Does having particular values predict an increase in well-being over time or does high well-being predict the strengthening of particular values? It is important to examine such questions within a specific life context and to find out whether such processes of change generalize across cultural contexts or show culture-specificity. We studied this research question during adjusting to a common life transition – university studies, and in 343 three different cultures -- China, Hong Kong, and the United Kingdom. We assumed that university studies encourage independent thought and high achievements. The perspective that value-fit should lead to increased well-being imply that students who value openness to change and self-enhancement when they enter their studies should become happier as time goes by. The broaden-and-build theory (Fredrickson, 2001), which suggests that high wellbeing broadens the mind for discovery and creative ideas implies that happiness on entry to university would be conducive to strengthening openness to change values. Perspectives that view high well-being as a resource that enables people to function in a way that would lead to rewards, imply that happier students will increase pursuit of self-enhancement values with the likely rewards of achievements in their studies. In all three longitudinal studies, the initial levels of values did not predict later well-being, but initial levels of well-being predicted some subsequent value change in the proposed directions. We interpret variations in the effects found across the three studies as potentially stemming from the different nuances of values encouraged in school in comparison to university in the perspective countries. The findings highlight the importance to reconsider the role of well-being, not only as a desired outcome, but as a facilitator for value change in the process of adaptation to different social environments.