Personal values and mortality: Power, benevolence and self-direction predict mortality risk

Abstract

Objectives

Although personal values guide one’s life in several important aspects, no study has examined how personal values relate to mortality. The current study strives to fill this gap. I ask: Which personal values prospectively predict mortality?

Design

A large population-based sample of middle-aged and older adults in Germany was used (N = 6089).

Methods

Personal values were measured in 2008 according to Schwartz using the Portraits Value Questionnaire. Mortality was monitored up to 2017, resulting in a maximum follow-up period of about 10 years.

Results

Using Cox survival regression analyses, I found that Self-direction and, in part, Benevolence predicted a decreased mortality risk. Conversely, Power predicted an increased mortality risk.

Conclusions

Thus, valuing independent thought and action (Self-Direction) and valuing the well-being of close others (Benevolence) seem to be associated with improved health, whereas valuing dominance and materialism (Power) is associated with diminished health. Future research should examine the mechanisms by which these personal values relate to mortality.

Keywords:

• Values
• mortality
• morbidity
• health

Acknowledgements

The author gratefully thanks the German Centre of Gerontology for providing the data used in the current study.

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the German Centre of Gerontology. Restrictions apply to the availability of these data, which were used under license for this study. Data are available at https://www.dza.de/en/fdz/german-ageing-survey/data.html with the permission of the German Centre of Gerontology.

Disclosure statement

The author declares that he has no conflict of interest.