Benish-Weisman M, Oreg S, Berson Y. The Contribution of Peer Values to Children's Values and Behavior.
PERSONALITY AND SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY BULLETIN 2021;
48:844-864. [PMID:
34142620 PMCID:
PMC9121531 DOI:
10.1177/01461672211020193]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Personal values have a key role in determining people’s perceptions, judgments,
and behaviors. Only a handful of studies examined determinants of children’s
values outside the family. We used longitudinal data on children’s values from
15,008 children in Grades 3 to 9, and homeroom teachers’ reports about the
behaviors of 3,476 of these children. As predicted, peers’ values were
positively correlated with the strengthening of children’s corresponding values.
Moreover, with the exception of self-transcendence values, peer values had an
indirect effect on corresponding child behavior, through children’s
self-endorsed values. Girl peers had stronger effects on both girls’ and boys’
values. In addition, we found some evidence for stronger relationships between
peer and children’s values among the older children, in particular among boys.
These latter effects were even more prominent in an extended sample that
included data from first and second graders. We discuss the theoretical and
practical implications of our findings.
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