Personal Values Preferred by Secondary School Students – a Selected Sociodemographic Indicators

Abstract

One of the basic tasks of development at the stage of adolescence is the formation of an individual hierarchy of values, which in later stages of life is a fully regulatory function in daily life activities and choices. Numerous studies indicate that young people declared preferring universal values, and, to a small degree, those which are considered typically hedonistic. In order to diagnose with which symbols the youth equate happiness and what values in life are paramount, and whether and to what extent selected socio-demographic factors differ in this field, a student study was conducted using the method of a diagnostic survey. As a tool there was used a List of Personal Values by Siegfried Juczyński. 375 junior high school students from the Lublin Province were examined. Personal values declared by young people usually refer to family, friends, good health. Hedonistic values chosen by respondents were rarely ascribed a low rank. Socio-demographic factors such as a place of residence, parents’ education and a subjective assessment of the situation of the family differentiated pupils only in terms of individual symbols of happiness and personal values. Gender was not a factor differentiating the respondents in this area. Axiological sphere is subject to social, cultural, educational constant change. Important in this regard seem to be activities aimed at education towards values.