Document Type
Article
Version
Author's Final Manuscript
Publication Title
Social Psychological and Personality Science
Volume
5
Publication Date
2014
Abstract
Based on Greenfield’s (2009) theory of social change and human development, we predicted that adolescents’ values, behaviors, and self-assessments would become more collectivistic and less individualistic during the Great Recession (2008-2010) compared to the pre-recession period (2004-2006) and in the context of long-term trends (1976-1978). Data came from Monitoring the Future, a nationally representative yearly survey of 12th graders. Concern for others and environmentalism increased from the pre-recession period to recession, reversing long-term declines. Long-term trends toward increasing materialism partially reversed: wanting a job making lots of money continued to increase, the increase in the importance of money leveled off, and the increase in desiring to own expensive material items reversed. Long-term trends toward increasingly positive self-views continued. Correlations with economic indicators (median income, employment rate) over the entire time period (1976-2010) showed that collectivism was high and individualism was low during times of economic deprivation, consistent with Greenfield’s theory.
Publisher's Statement
This is the accepted manuscript. The publisher's final version is available here: http://spp.sagepub.com/content/5/3/310.
Citation
H. Park, J. M. Twenge, and P. M. Greenfield, "The Great Recession: Implications for Adolescent Values and Behavior," Social Psychological and Personality Science 5.3 (2014): 310-318.
DOI
10.1177/1948550613495419