Revisiting Values and Self-Esteem: A Large-Scale Study in the United States. Issue 1 (January 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Du, Hongfei; Götz, Friedrich M.; Chen, Anli; Rentfrow, Peter J.
• Is Part Of: European journal of personality. Volume 37:Issue 1(2023)
• Page Start: 3
• Page End: 19
• Publication Date: 2023-01
• Subjects: person-culture fit -- basic human values -- value congruence -- self-esteem -- United States; Personality -- Periodicals; 155.2
• DOI: 10.1177/08902070211038805
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0890-2070

Abstract

Person-culture fit perspectives posit that individuals have higher self-esteem when their values match the values of the sociocultural environment in which they live. The current study tested this hypothesis by examining the associations between value congruence and self-esteem in a large-scale sample in the United States ( N = 48, 563). Multilevel response surface analyses revealed no evidence of value congruence effects on self-esteem, such that the agreement between individual- and state-level values did not positively predict self-esteem for any of the 10 basic values. Instead, we found positive (stimulation, security) and negative (conformity) linear associations between individual-level values and self-esteem. We also found positive curvilinear relationships between individual-level achievement and tradition values and self-esteem, and negative curvilinear relationships between individual-level self-direction, hedonism, power, benevolence, and universalism values and self-esteem. In addition, state-level values moderated the relationship between values and self-esteem for tradition, universalism, and conformity values. In federal states with stronger endorsement of tradition values, individuals' tradition values were more positively associated with self-esteem. In contrast, in states with stronger endorsement of universalism values, individuals' universalism values were more negatively associated with self-esteem. Lastly, individuals' conformity values were negatively associated with self-esteem, particularly in states with weaker endorsement of conformity values.