Values Survey Research Articles

Digital distractions and work-leisure balance: excessive information through digital consumption and its impact on work ethic among Muslims

Purpose Excessive digital consumption can lead to a blurring of boundaries between work and leisure. This paper aims to investigate the influence of digital consumption on the work ethic among Muslims, integrating demographic variables like gender and marital status into the analysis. Design/methodology/approach Using data from the 7th wave of the World Values Survey, this study focuses on a subset of 12,979 employed Muslims to assess the relationships between their engagement with digital media and their work-related values. Multiple linear regression models are used to analyze the effects of various digital platforms, including mobile phones, social media and internet usage, on the perceived importance of work and related ethic principles. Findings The findings indicate a significant negative impact of over digital consumption on work ethic, suggesting that increased digital engagement and tech-overload may undermine traditional work values. The relationship persists in all models on success inclusion of control variables, which confirms the robustness of the relationship. However, this relationship varies among demographic groups, with males and singles being more susceptible to the negative impacts compared to females and married individuals. Originality/value The study contributes to understanding how digital consumption influences traditional work values and offers recommendations for balancing digital consumption to maintain a robust work ethic in modern digital societies.

Religiosity and corruption acceptability in a developing country: does patriotism mediate the relationship?

Purpose Religiosity is believed to have an effect on corruption acceptability but the mechanism by which its effect is realized is not fully known. In this study, we explore the potency of patriotism as a mediating variable on the relationship between religiosity and corruption acceptability in a developing context. Design/methodology/approach We use cross-sectional data from the World Values Survey on Ghana which was collected from 1,552 respondents. We analyse the data using descriptive statistics, correlation and macro PROCESS model in SPSS. Findings We ascertain that while religiosity has a significant direct negative effect on corruption acceptability, it has no significant direct effect on patriotism or indirect effect on corruption acceptability. However, patriotism has a positive significant effect on corruption acceptability. Furthermore, the findings reveal that private-sector employees, as compared to public sector employees, are more likely to perceive corruption as unacceptable. Similarly, females are more likely than males to perceive corruption as unacceptable. We conclude that patriotism does not mediate the relationship between religiosity and corruption acceptability. Originality/value Our findings have bridged the gap in extant literature by revealing that patriotism is not an effective mediator in the relationship between religiosity and corruption acceptability in developing country context. Therefore, we provide evidence for building a strong link between religiosity and socio-moral conduct, where the conscience of citizens will be developed against the acceptability of corruption.

From Negative to Positive Peace: How Norms Relate to Different Peace Dimensions

ABSTRACT Norms play a pivotal role in fostering peace. Yet, there is a dearth of comparative empirical studies testing which norms exhibit the strongest connection. Moreover, peace is usually only measured in terms of the absence of violent conflict, neglecting its positive dimensions. This article uses fresh data from the World Values Survey to assess how different norms correlate with negative and positive measures of peace. It confirms that societal endorsement of democracy, tolerance, and gender equality significantly correlate with reduced violent conflict. However, only gender equality also correlates with interpersonal trust as a key indicator of positive peace.

Do happy individuals support government environmental spending? Evidence from the general social survey

ABSTRACT Using 49 years of General Social Survey data (1972–2021), we investigate the relationship between individual happiness and support for government environmental expenditure. Contrary to expectations, we find a negative correlation between higher levels of happiness and support for environmental spending. Employing various methods to address endogeneity, including bivariate probit and instrumental variable approaches, we uncover a non-linear relationship where individuals with greater life satisfaction are less likely to support government environmental expenditure. We also find that tax morale serves as a moderating factor in this relationship. We validate these findings using World Values Survey data from over a hundred countries. Our results challenge conventional assumptions about the link between personal well-being and environmental policy attitudes. This unexpected relationship suggests that policymakers should develop targeted strategies to engage happier individuals (especially those with low tax morale) in supporting environmental measures.

How Locus of Control Predicts Subjective Well-Being and its Inequality: The Moderating Role of Social Values

AbstractPrevious research has established the central role of an individuals’ locus of control (LoC) in influencing subjective well-being. However, earlier studies have predominantly omitted an exploration of potential moderating factors at the country-level and have rarely delved into the influence of LoC on an important yet often-overlooked dimension of well-being—namely, subjective well-being inequality. Addressing these gaps, this study examines the association between individuals’ LoC and subjective well-being, considering both the mean and inequality aspects. Additionally, it explores the moderating influence of country’s social values, particularly the individualism-collectivism dimension. Utilizing data from the Integrated Values Survey, comprising 170,000 observations across 37 countries from 1996 to 2022, our study confirms a strong positive relationship between LoC and subjective well-being while also unveiling a strong negative relationship with subjective well-being inequality. Moreover, it demonstrates that country’s social values exert significant moderation effects on the relationship between LoC and subjective well-being, affecting both the mean level and inequality aspects, albeit in opposing directions. By employing the Oaxaca-Blinder decomposition, our findings support the importance of structural effects. Understanding how increasing LoC shapes people’s wellbeing in a society holds implications for policymaking and contributes to ongoing discussions on collective choice and inequality.

Impact of Regional Disparities in Social Capital and Its Components on Quality of Life

According to the prevailing opinion, social capital is one of the most robust indicators of quality of life (QoL). We ask whether this insight applies to Slovakia, as well, on the basis of understanding social capital not as one holistic concept but as a set of interrelated components, which are trust, networks, and norms. The paper has two goals, the first of which is to determine the amount of social capital, its components, and QoL, as well as its spatial disparities, at a district level. In this case, the goal is to determine the quantity of the investigated variables. The data source is the World Value Survey, Round 7, in which Slovakia also participated. The second goal is to find out how social capital and its components affect the QoL in individual districts. In other words, we would like to determine the quality of the impact of social capital and its components on the QoL. The result is the knowledge that social capital as a whole reaches significantly lower values than the QoL and is not a predictor of the QoL in Slovakia. At the same time, however, disparities in the impact of social capital and its components on the QoL have high values. This knowledge challenges the understanding of holistic social capital as a robust indicator of QoL.

Social Trust in China

This article provides a comprehensive examination of social trust in China. It addresses ongoing debates about how much people trust, whether there is a trust crisis, and where trust comes from. Analyzing extensive harmonized data from the Chinese General Social Survey (2003–2021) and the World Values Survey (1990–2018) spanning three decades, we find that Chinese people have high levels of general trust in others; this high social trust has been largely stable over the last three decades; and political confidence and perceived fairness are two key drivers of trust. On the other hand, we see marked low trust toward several groups, such as strangers, businessmen, and religious individuals. Potential explanations are discussed. This study contributes to key trust debates and identifies novel trust patterns that can serve as valuable subjects for future research.

Fairweather Cosmopolitans: Immigration Attitudes in Latin America During the Migrant Crisis

Abstract What explains voter attitudes toward immigration in Latin America? This article argues that increased refugee arrivals moderate the impact of social identities on immigration attitudes. We propose that informational cues associated with increased immigration make cosmopolitan identities less important—and exclusionary national identities more important—determinants of immigration preferences. Analyzing 12 Latin American countries from the 2017–2022 wave of the World Values Survey, we demonstrate that cosmopolitanism is positively associated with pro-immigration attitudes, but only in countries experiencing low-to-moderate refugee inflows. Conversely, nationalism is negatively associated with pro-immigrant attitudes, and increasingly so as refugee inflows increase. The uneven distribution of refugee migration has therefore reshaped public opinion in Latin America by moderating the effects of competing social identities (i.e., cosmopolitanism and nationalism). These findings contribute to broader debates on the behavioral impacts of immigration by highlighting an indirect mechanism by which increased immigration may generate anti-immigrant hostility.

Social Security Perception and Corruption Perception in Vietnam

Abstract: The perception of social security and corruption significantly impacts governance and societal development, particularly in transitional economies like Vietnam. This study explores the intricate relationship between these perceptions and demographic factors within Vietnamese society. Using survey data from the World Values Survey Association (WVSA), key variables such as age, education level, income, and attitudes toward gender roles were analyzed to understand their influence on security and corruption perceptions. Through statistical methods including chi-square independence tests and regression analysis, this study investigates how different demographic characteristics relate to these perceptions. The data reveals a significant correlation between perceptions of security and corruption, with certain demographic groups, such as highly educated individuals, showing heightened concerns about both. The findings suggest that improving education and addressing income inequality could reduce corruption perceptions while enhancing security. These insights provide valuable directions for policymakers aiming to foster a safer and more transparent society in Vietnam.

Gendered Taxation: IMF Tax Advice and the Unintended Disempowerment of Women

Case research points to the gendered effects of the value added tax (VAT), which may particularly disadvantage women by crowding out their economic participation. A key driver of VAT introductions has been the International Monetary Fund (IMF). To counterbalance of-payments woes, IMF advice for cash-stripped countries has frequently focused on shifting toward broad-based consumption taxes while lowering trade taxes and corporate income taxes. We expect this tax policy advice – while ostensibly gender-blind – to contribute in practice to a deterioration in women’s socioeconomic well-being. To test this hypothesis, we construct a panel dataset for 147 countries from 1980 to 2016 and estimate the effect of IMF programs on women’s economic participation, education and health. Accounting for selection effects, we find that women’s life chances deteriorate relative to men’s if a country undergoes an IMF program with tax conditionality. We corroborate these findings to demonstrate the mechanism underlying these effects by showing a negative effect of IMF-induced de jure VAT adoption on women’s life chances. We provide complementary individual-level evidence from the World Values Surveys based on 98 countries from 1981 to 2019. We show that during an IMF program with tax conditionality, women are significantly less satisfied with home life and report more material hardships. Our results provide evidence of the potential for unintended consequences of IMF revenue prescriptions for women, supporting calls for increased attention to gender-responsive budgeting.

Subjective Well-Being and Corruption in Latin America

This study explores the impact of corruption on subjective well-being in Latin American countries, focusing on Chile, Ecuador, Argentina, Uruguay, Venezuela, Bolivia, Colombia, and Peru during the period 2017-2021. The research examines how perceptions of corruption affect key indicators such as education, health, income, and life satisfaction. Utilizing secondary data from the World Values Survey, a descriptive and explanatory methodology was employed, incorporating statistical analysis and ordinal logistic regression models. Findings reveal a complex relationship between corruption and subjective well-being, indicating that higher levels of education are associated with increased awareness of corruption, while economic stability, political trust, and life satisfaction show varied associations with perceived corruption. The study highlights regional differences and contextual factors influencing these dynamics, providing insights into the multifaceted effects of corruption on human development and overall well-being in Latin American populations. Received: 2 August 2024 / Accepted: 24 September 2024 / Published: 05 November 2024

Subjective well-being and attitudes toward outgroup members

There is a large body of literature on the effect of negative attitudes toward outgroup members on target individuals and groups. However, less attention was devoted to their effects on those who hold these attitudes. The current study hypothesized that there would be a bidirectional relationship between subjective well-being and attitudes toward outgroup members. In Study 1, data from the Integrated Values Surveys, the Ecology-Culture Dataset, and the World Happiness Report 2022 were used. In Study 2, a random intercept cross-lagged panel model was implemented using longitudinal data over a six-year period from the GESIS Panel (n = 6783 people living in Germany). Results of Study 1 demonstrated a significant negative relationship between subjective well-being and negative attitudes toward outgroup members both at the country level (118 countries) and at the individual level (663,965 participants in 120 countries around the world). In Study 2, a random intercept cross-lagged panel model revealed significant within-person reciprocal relations between life satisfaction and negative attitudes toward refugees. This study provides evidence for a bidirectional relationship between subjective well-being and negative attitudes toward outgroup members.

An exploratory study of blind spot bias in psychiatrists: The value of mindfulness and ethical skills’

IntroductionPsychiatry is an area of medicine that is particularly exposed to the risks of cognitive bias, notably because diagnosis is subjective. However, psychiatrists may develop psycho-cognitive skills that protect against bias, as the reflective approach to their patients favors the activation of system 2 (logical) as opposed to system 1 (intuitive) processes. Furthermore, the collegial practices found in psychiatry, a consequence of the ethical questions psychiatrists must address, can also mitigate the impact of bias. On the other hand, clinical ethics committees have adopted structured deliberation practices that aim to improve collective decision-making and limit the cognitive biases associated with groupthink. ObjectiveThe primary aim was to compare blind spot bias in a group of psychiatrists and a group of ‘ethicists’, experts in group deliberation. The secondary objective was to study the distribution of skills influencing the balance between systems 1 and 2 (notably, ethical deliberation, feeling of efficacy, mindfulness, and values) in both groups. The general hypothesis is that psychiatrists are less prone to blind spot bias and are more competent in the skills studied. MethodsThis descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted from April 2022 to May 2023. Thirty-two psychiatrists were recruited from several French hospitals, along with 20 ‘ethicists’. All participants completed the following self-administered questionnaires: the Bias Blind Spot Scale (French version), the Euro Moral Case Deliberation (Euro-MCD, ethical skills), Bandura's self-efficacy scale (self and collective efficacy), the Freiburg Mindfulness Inventory (mindfulness), and the Schwartz Value Survey (values). ResultsThe ratio of self/other blind spot bias was lower in the ‘ethicists’ group than the psychiatrists’ group (P<0.001). Euro-MCD scores were higher (P<0.001) and psychiatrists tended to have a better sense of collective efficacy (P=0.08). No significant difference was found between the two groups for total mindfulness or presence and acceptance sub-scores. Scores for hedonic value were higher among psychiatrists (P<0.02). ConclusionThe results do not confirm our hypotheses. There is less evidence of blind spot bias among our sample of ‘ethicists’, who are experts in group deliberation, than psychiatrists, who have experience of the patient/physician dyad. The ethical skills that are developed within the formal deliberation process seem particularly interesting in terms of reducing cognitive bias.

Psychological predictors of socioeconomic resilience amidst the COVID-19 pandemic: Evidence from machine learning.

What predicts cross-country differences in the recovery of socioeconomic activity from the COVID-19 pandemic? To answer this question, we examined how quickly countries' socioeconomic activity bounced back to normalcy from disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic based on residents' attitudes, values, and beliefs as measured in the World Values Survey. We trained nine preregistered machine learning models to predict the rate at which various socioeconomic metrics (e.g., public transportation occupancy, cinema attendance) recovered from their COVID-19 lows based on the World Values Survey. All models had high predictive accuracy when presented with out-of-sample data (rs ≥ .83). Feature importance analyses identified five psychological predictors that most strongly predicted socioeconomic recovery from COVID-19: religiosity, liberal social attitudes, the value of independence, obedience to authority, and the Protestant work ethic. Although past research has established the role of religiosity, liberalism, and independence in predicting resilience, it has not yet considered obedience to authority or the Protestant work ethic. Thus, the current research suggests new directions for future work on resilience that may not be apparent from either a deductive or an inductive approach. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Social Cohesion in Different Periods of the Pandemic: What Works in Reducing COVID-19 Mortality

Abstract Background Inconsistent results were reported regarding the effects of social cohesion dimensions on COVID-19 mortality rate (MR). Most studies have indicated that trust in civil services, but not participating in social activities, reduces COVID-19 MR, possibly because of the highly contagious nature of this disease. In this study, we investigated how the effects of various dimensions of social cohesion on COVID-19 MR vary across different phases of the pandemic. Methods This longitudinal study was conducted using data from 86 countries that participated in the 2017-2020 World Values Survey. The measures of social cohesion were identified by aggregating survey responses to the country level. COVID-19 MR was calculated-using data from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control-separately for three distinct periods during the pandemic (January 2021-June 2022). A factor analysis was conducted to identify the dimensions of social cohesion, and negative binomial regression models were constructed to analyze data for each period. Results The factor analysis revealed three dimensions of social cohesion: social participation and inclusion, health service equality, and trust in civil services and democracy. Our findings suggest that each dimension of social cohesion uniquely affected COVID-19 outcomes in different periods of the pandemic. Trust in civil services and a positive attitude toward democracy are strongly associated with a low COVID-19 MR. However, this association was observed only in the early and middle stages of the pandemic. By contrast, our study demonstrated that in the late stage of the pandemic, increased social participation and inclusion helped combat COVID-19. Conclusions This study underscores the importance of collective cohesion and solidarity in mobilizing public responses against pandemic situations. This study emphasizes that preventive or regulatory interventions should be tailored to different phases of a pandemic. Key messages • COVID-19 mortality rate was negatively associated with trust in civil services during the early two periods and with social participation and social inclusion during the late period of the pandemic. • This study emphasizes that preventive or regulatory interventions should be tailored to different phases of a pandemic.

Gender emancipation and its impact on happiness: An examination of the happy wife, happy life formula

The adage "happy wife, happy life" implies that women's gender emancipation could contribute to the overall societal quality of life. However, it raises at least two questions: Does advancing women's rights lead to increased happiness for women? Is it possible that advancing women’s rights occurs at the expense of men? The study examines the relationship between gender emancipation and happiness, aiming to determine whether gender emancipation genuinely enhances the happiness of both women and men, and whether the focus on women’s well-being might negatively impact men. Data from the World Values Survey were used to conduct cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses. The cross-sectional analysis focused on the relationship between emancipation and happiness, while the longitudinal analysis explored trends in gender emancipation and happiness from the 3rd cohort (1995-1998) to the 7th cohort (2017-2022). Women had higher gender emancipation scores, but the genders did not differ significantly in happiness scores. Surprisingly, there was no significant correlation between gender emancipation and happiness, whether analysing the entire sample or each gender separately. Longitudinal data revealed increasing gender emancipation and happiness over time. This similarity in trends was interpreted as a spurious relationship. It was hypothesised that happiness could stem from gender emancipation. However, despite longitudinal data revealing growing gender emancipation and happiness for both sexes, the cross-sectional analysis showed no such correlations. Gender emancipation and happiness, as measured by the World Values Survey, were not related. Emancipation does not necessarily equate to a happy life.

Social media use and mistrust in authority: an examination of Kohlberg’s moral development model

PurposeThe study explores how social media impacts institutional trust through the lens of Kohlberg’s stages of moral development. Specifically, this study aims to understand how moral relativism and moral intuitionism can moderate the relationship between social media use and perception of social authorities.Design/methodology/approachThe study analyzes a large data set from the World Values Survey, covering responses from approximately 52,000 individuals across 45 countries between 2017 and 2022. Multiple regression analyses were conducted to test for interactions between social media use and stages of moral development on trust in social institutions.FindingsThe study finds that different stages of moral development significantly moderate the relationship between social media use and institutional trust. Specifically, higher moral development buffers the negative effect of social media use on trust in three main social institutions: law enforcement, parliament and the legal system. In contrast, individuals with higher levels of moral relativism and moral intuitionism are more susceptible to the negative influence of social media on institutional trust.Research limitations/implicationsThe study relies on self-reported data from the World Values Survey, which may introduce response biases. In addition, while the large-scale data set offers insights into correlations, it does not allow for conclusive causal inferences.Originality/valueThis research contributes to understanding technology’s impact on modern societies by highlighting the role of individual moral development in shaping perceptions of key social institutions. The study uniquely integrates Kohlberg’s moral development theory with the influence of social media, offering a novel perspective on how personal moral systems can moderate the effect of digital media use.

Subjective Income Inequality and Happiness: A Case study of Pakistan

This study measures the relationship between subjective income inequality, happiness, and other factors in Pakistan. This study is the first of its kind in Pakistan, where it has determined the relationship between subjective income inequality and happiness. The data was taken from the World Values Survey database, where data of wave 7, i.e., 2018 for Pakistan, was chosen from 2017-2021. The sample size consisted of 1399 individuals. The theories that supported the results were the Tunnel Effect Theory and Multiple Discrepancy Theory. The Ordinal Probit Model was used due to the categorical nature of dependent and explanatory variables. The study at hand encompasses multiple independent variables such as health, gender, age, social class (subjective), satisfaction with the financial situation of the household, income inequality vs large income difference, and income level whereas happiness is the dependent variable. Findings revealed that Subjective income inequality (p&lt;0.10), social class (p&lt;0.10), and satisfaction with financial household condition (p&lt;0.05) significantly affect individual happiness. However, objective income (p&gt;0.10), gender (p&lt;0.05), and age (p&gt;0.05) do not have a significant impact on happiness. These findings support our stated hypotheses. Multiple discrepancy theory proved significant as objective income did not affect happiness, whereas subjective income did. Health, which is subjective did not affect happiness as well. Hence, it recommended that individuals must not measure their income subjectively as it would lower their happiness, it must instead be determined objectively.

The Great Vaccine Divide: A Comparative Analysis of Distrust in Covid-19 Vaccines in Turkey

The aim of this study is to identify key predictors of public distrust in different Covid-19 vaccines available in Turkey. We use multiple linear regression with robust standard errors to analyze the data from the 2022 Turkey Covid-19 Values Survey of 1,500 face-to-face interviews across Turkey. Our results show that Pfizer/BioNTech has the lowest level of distrust, followed by Sinovac and Turkovac. Trust in political institutions and health institutions significantly reduce distrust for all vaccine brands. However, conspiracy beliefs and political conservatism are linked to higher distrust in Sinovac and BioNTech, while increased religiosity correlates with more distrust in BioNTech but less in Turkovac. Our comparative brand analysis adds an essential perspective to the existing literature while highlighting the necessity of maintaining public trust in institutions. It also demonstrates the importance of brand-specific strategies in promoting vaccines and addressing challenges faced by populations for more successful public health initiatives.

A Decade of Liberal Cosmopolitanism in the United States: The Effects of Gender, Race, and Income

This study investigates correlates of cosmopolitan sentiments in the United States over a decade, contributing to the literature in two ways. First, it tests the “group status thesis” in the U.S., which suggests that marginalized and disadvantaged groups are more likely to exhibit cosmopolitan attitudes. Second, it examines the interaction between socioeconomic factors and the waves of the World Values Survey conducted between 2006 and 2017. The findings support the main hypotheses of the group status thesis: women, non-Whites, and lower-income individuals tend to be more cosmopolitan in their outlook. Over the 11-year period, the gap in liberal cosmopolitanism between genders and income levels widened. The study concludes that liberal cosmopolitanism is rooted in specific structural locations, with marginalized groups being more inclined to embrace it. Notably, support for cosmopolitanism remained relatively strong before and during the early years of the Trump administration in 2017.