Page 28 - JCBP-2-2

Journal of Clinical and
Basic Psychosomatics reported a slightly higher importance of hedonism or self-
Life values in representative general population

Partial eta 2 ; post-hoc tests (Bonferroni corrected) the pandemic. Similar findings have been reported from
Notes: Means (standard deviation) of self-reported agreement to life values (Short Schwartz Values scale) are reported. MANOVA for group differences—dependent variables: age group and year
direction after the pandemic, and older individuals valued
universalism, benevolism, and tradition lower than before
an Austrian national investigation, where comparisons
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between cohorts in spring 2020 and spring 2021 revealed
slight shifts in values in terms of an increase in hedonism
MANOVA multivariate tests significance P; significant differences in age group comparison Significant differences between age groups: 20 versus 70,80 Age*Year: P=0.274; E 2 =0.002 Age*Year: P=0.118; E 2 =0.002 Age*Year: P=0.559; E 2 =0.001 short-term shifts. This may be explained in light of the
and a decline in conformity. We interpreted the data as
Year: P<0.001; E 2 =0.002
Year: P<0.009; E 2 =0.001
Year: P<0.001; E 2 =0.003
Age: P=0.079; E 2 =0.002
Age: P=0.005; E 2 =0.004
pandemic, with its special demands for conformity and
Age: P=0.57; E 2 =0.001
reduced possibilities for hedonistic experiences due to
lockdowns, and the response of individuals to these specific
conditions; the value of hedonism was rated higher after
the experience of lockdowns; individuals wish to be active
and have a joyful time in the future. After a time of high
demands for conformism and adhering to strict rules that
(Npre=2412; Npost=2499) of conformity and a wish for individual freedom. In this
All 4.31 (1.17) 4.22 (1.25) 4.26 (1.16) 4.21 (1.18) 4.79 (1.02) 4.70 (0.99) impact daily life, motivation may arise for the reduction
period of the pandemic (approximately 1 year after it
began, in early 2021), there were also increased rates of
dissatisfaction and embitterment. These phenomena can
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≥75 years (Npre=165; Npost=206) 80 4.61 (1.01) 4.22 (1.20) 4.44 (1.09) 4.19 (1.31) 4.95 (0.86) 4.69 (1.00) be interpreted as reactions to the crisis that diminish and
normalize when the crisis ends.
65–74 years (Npre=307; Npost=337) 70 4.37 (1.19) 4.34 (1.16) 4.32 (1.18) 4.18 (1.15) 4.81 (0.98) 4.79 (0.94) 4.2. Life values in different age groups
There are some similarities between the data from the
representative samples investigated in the literature and our
findings. Specifically, the general importance of universalism
55–64 years (Npre=462; Npost=483) 60 4.31 (1.21) 4.19 (1.32) 4.24 (1.18) 4.26 (1.18) 4.77 (1.04) 4.70 (1.00) and benevolence, as reported in other studies, was also
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evident in our study, with these values ranked highest in all
age groups.
There is a tendency for a loss of religiosity in Europe,
45–54 years (Npre=455; Npost=414) 50 4.29 (1.16) 4.22 (1.26) 4.28 (1.11) 4.28 (1.18) 4.80 (0.97) 4.75 (1.03) accompanied by a shift toward values emphasizing
openness to change. Such a trend was also observed in
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Turkish urban workforce samples two decades ago, whereby
35–44 years (Npre=407; Npost=448) 40 4.30 (1.08) 4.30 (1.22) 4.22 (1.17) 4.27 (1.15) 4.75 (1.02) 4.70 (0.96) harmony, conservation, and collectivism decreased over
time while self-enhancement became more important.
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Based on our 2018 and 2022 data, the younger age groups
were more oriented towards hedonism, stimulation, and
25–34 years (Npre=356; Npost=404) 30 4.29 (1.18) 4.16 (1.28) 4.23 (1.17) 4.18 (1.09) 4.77 (1.11) 4.69 (0.99) self-direction than the older group, which may support the
assumption of an over-regional development of specific
values in different generations.
4.3. Limitations
≤24 years (Npre=260; Npost=207) 20 4.16 (1.25) 4.06 (1.42) 4.22 (1.21) 3.95 (1.27) 4.79 (1.04) 4.59 (1.02) The limitations of this study include its cross-sectional
and self-reporting design, whereby different individuals
Table 1. (Continued) Values Tradition pre-pandemic Tradition post-pandemic Conformity pre-pandemic Conformity post-pandemic Stability pre-pandemic Stability post-pandemic (pre- or post-pandemic). cohorts; thus, no individual developments from before
were investigated in the first (2018) and second (2022)

to after the pandemic could be tracked. However, both
investigations covered large nationally representative
samples with a similar distribution of sociodemographics,

https://doi.org/10.36922/jcbp.2192
Volume 2 Issue 2 (2024) 5 providing epidemiological-like data on the distribution,