Abstract:

Personal values are essential psychological characteristics, as they are important predictors of many life results. However, they are often studied separately, not allowing a broader understanding of their interconnections. Thus, this study’s goal is to test the hypothesis that life values are important predictors of vocational interests but also of self-concept. 106 Portuguese young adults, from both sexes, participated in this study (76 girls-70.4% and 32 boys-29.6%), with age ranged from 19 to 25 years old (µ=21±0.78). These Portuguese young adults are students attending the 2nd grade in a Portuguese college, in academic areas related to social sciences and humanistic. They were assessed by the Life Values Inventory, Clinical Inventory of Self-concept scale and by the Self-Directed Search. The study about the different variable interconnections was performed throughout the analysis of the Spearman correlation’s coefficients and throughout a simple linear regression model. Results confirm the hypothesis under this study, demonstrating that life values have a predictor effect on vocational interests and on self-concept.

They also demonstrate a statistically significant relationship between:
(a) the economic prosperity value and both realistic and conventional interests;
(b) achievement, creativity, independence, responsibility and scientific understanding values and research interests;
(c) health and physical activity values and entrepreneurial interests;
(d) environmental concerns value and social interests; and between
(e) creativity, social concerns, family and group loyalty, responsibility and privacy values and artistic interests.

Furthermore, results demonstrate that values related to achievement, creativity and concern about others seem to be more related to more positive self-perception. These results are crucial to vocational psychology and to the study of vocational development but also to vocational interventions with this particular population - college students.

Keywords:

Values, Self-concept, Vocational interests.