Continuity and Change in Values in Midlife: Testing the Age Stability Hypothesis

Abstract

Results support the age stability hypothesis, rather than the situational influence hypothesis, with similar results for both terminal and instrumental values. It is suggested that the consistent values of respondents may have helped them weather the wide range of often-difficult circumstances many reported experiencing. Future research should examine this hypothesis.

Discretionary Time Over Time: A Longitudinal View of Adults’ Lives and Leisure

“…There have, however, been few longitudinal studies of changing perceptions of leisure, even though leisure researchers have endorsed the importance of such work (Kleiber & Genoe, 2012;Nimrod & Janke, 2012). Studies using the longitudinal data analyzed in this paper found both stability and continuity in leisure values, leisure attitudes, and perceived levels of freedom in leisure during middle adulthood (Stockard et al, 2014;Janke et al, 2011) and a consistency in leisure perceptions among those coping with the death of someone emotionally close (Hendrick, 1995). But, the authors found no previous studies that explicitly examined the way in which changing perceptions of leisure in midlife were related to changing perceptions of time scarcity, life experiences and life structure over time.…”

“…When questioning occurred, it was generally related to previously made life decisions such as those related to family, work, relationships, and values; or to new events happening in their lives. Researchers have used this multidimensional perspective to better understand leisure across the lifespan (Harahousou, 2006;Iso Ahola et al, 1994), continuity and change in values during midlife (Stockard, Carpenter, & Kahle, 2014), and patterns and change in leisure perceptions (Janke et al, 2011). Empirical studies have also shown its utility in understanding such diverse situations as tourists' role preference patterns (Gibson & Yiannakis, 2002), and in the lives of dual-career women (Shank, 1986).…”

The temporal instability of aesthetic preferences.

“…Thus, our results may be compatible to that of Pugach et al at the earlier and later ages, considering that we measured only part of the U shape. An alternate view comes from the "age-stability" hypothesis which states that the attitudes, beliefs, and personality traits of individuals will tend to stabilize as they reach mature adulthood (Stockard et al, 2014). While this hypothesis has ample support from research in socio-political beliefs, personality traits, and work values, little evidence is available in the aesthetic domain.…”

Lifestyle and sport: Emulation marketing.

“…To be included within the LOV, values were required to relate plausibly to each of life' s major roles: work, leisure, marriage, and parenting. Research on the LOV has shown that values vary widely by place (Kahle, 1986;Tan et al, 2015), time (Gurel-Atay et al, 2010;Stockard et al, 2014), and situation (Piner & Kahle, 1984). The LOV is presented in more detail in Chapter 10.…”