Changes in Values toward Individualism and Collectivism among Young Adults

Casey E. Copen, University of Southern California
Lynne M. Casper, University of Southern California

Using the USC Longitudinal Study Of Generations (LSOG), a study of four generation families, this paper uses fixed and random effects to study value changes in young adulthood in the year 2000(N=451). The specific aim of this study is to examine whether young adults’ values toward individualism and collectivism are responsive to age, family background and life course transitions. The results suggest young adults’ values change with age, family background as well as in response to life course transitions, such as college completion, marriage, cohabitation and parenthood. Specifically, the findings show a strong shift in values toward collectivism with the occurrence of life events such as marriage and parenthood. In contrast, young adults who cohabited with a partner had higher individualistic values over time. These findings corroborate other studies which show young adults’ values are malleable over the life course.