Well-being as a Function of Person-Country Fit in Human Values

It is often assumed that incongruence between individuals’ values and those of their country is distressing, but the evidence has been mixed. Across 29 countries, the present research investigated whether well-being is higher if people’s values match with those of people living in the same country or region. Using representative samples, we find that person-country and person-region value congruence predict six well-being measures (e.g., emotional well-being, relationship support; N = 54,673). Crucially, however, value type moderates whether person-country fit is positively or negatively associated with well-being. People who value self-direction, stimulation, and hedonism more and live in countries and regions where people on average share these values report lower well-being. In contrast, people who value achievement, power, and security more and live in countries and regions where people on average share these values, report higher well-being. Additionally, we find that people who moderately value stimulation report the highest well-being

The Relationship Between Well-Being and Value Priorities as Well as Intersubjective Norms Among Emerging Adults in South Africa

Abstract: Emerging adults are at a vital stage in their personal development as they work towards negotiating their personal values and goals with those of their social groups, significant others and the society at large. The chapter examined the association between value priorities and well-being among emerging adults in South Africa, who grow up in a multicultural, multilingual country to which they are exposed to groups who are different to theirs. A total of 192 (35% male, M Age = 20.41 years, SD = 1.76) participants were recruited. Results indicated that personal value priorities correlated significantly with life satisfaction, positive and negative affect but not mental health. Intersubjective norms (perceived value priorities of significant others and society) showed no association with well-being. The effects of incongruence between reported personal value priorities and those of significant others were non-significant. We conclude that, personal values are more important for well-being than perceived values of significant others and larger society

Young Adult Unemployment Through the Lens of Social Media: Italy as a Case Study

Youth unemployment rates are still in alerting levels for many countries, among which Italy. Direct consequences include poverty, social exclusion, and criminal behaviours, while negative impact on the future employability and wage cannot be obscured. In this study, we employ survey data together with social media data, and in particular likes on Facebook Pages, to analyse personality, moral values, but also cultural elements of the young unemployed population in Italy. Our findings show that there are small but significant differences in personality and moral values, with the unemployed males to be less agreeable while females more open to new experiences. At the same time, unemployed have a more collectivist point of view, valuing more in-group loyalty, authority, and purity foundations. Interestingly, topic modelling analysis did not reveal major differences in interests and cultural elements of the unemployed. Utilisation patterns emerged though; the employed seem to use Facebook to connect with local activities, while the unemployed use it mostly as for entertainment purposes and as a source of news, making them susceptible to mis/disinformation. We believe these findings can help policymakers get a deeper understanding of this population and initiatives that improve both the hard and the soft skills of this fragile population