Personal Values Research Articles

Objective Suffering: What is it? What Could it be?

There is an ongoing debate in bioethics regarding the nature of suffering. This conversation revolves around the following question: What kind of thing, exactly, is suffering? Specifically, is suffering a subjective phenomenon-intrinsically linked to personhood, personal values, feelings, and lived experience-or an objective affair, amenable to impersonal criteria and existing as an independent feature of the natural world? Notably, the implications of this determination are politically and ethically significant. This essay attempts to bring clarity to the subjective versus objective debate in suffering scholarship by examining the history of the concept of "objectivity," and putting that history in conversation with physician Eric Cassell's famous theory of suffering. It concludes with a novel, albeit tentative, definition of suffering: suffering is the experience of a gap between how things are and how things ought to be.

Purchase intention of Millennial Muslims toward B2C e-commerce

Indonesia’s e-commerce market, particularly B2C, continues to expand, attracting both domestic and foreign investments. Despite this growth, a notable decline in B2C sales occurred. This drop is largely attributed to rising competition in the market, which has made it increasingly difficult for platforms to retain consumer interest. This study investigates the factors that influence Millennial Muslim consumers’ purchase intentions on B2C e-commerce in Indonesia using structural equation modeling. The respondents in this study were taken from the Millennial generation of e-commerce users. This generation was chosen because they are economically more established than Generation Z and in terms of technology use, are more expert than Baby Boomers. Initially, 700 responses were collected, but after excluding incomplete or non-qualifying data, 434 valid responses were analyzed. The findings reveal that perceived risk (β: 0.206), perceived quality (β: 0.440), and enduring involvement (β: 0.240) positively affect perceived trust, whereas situational involvement (β: -0.331) has a negative impact. Additionally, enduring involvement (β: 0.659), situational involvement (β: 0.133), and perceived trust (β: 0.103) were found to positively influence purchase intention, while perceived risk (β: -0.093) negatively affects it. The study emphasizes that enduring involvement (β: 0.659) is the strongest variable that increase purchase intention in B2C e-commerce. Enduring involvement refers to a consumer’s long-term interest and engagement with a product category, driven by personal relevance, values, or consistent motivations. AcknowledgmentThe authors would like to thank the Research and Innovation Institute (LRI), Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta, for the enormous financial support in writing this study through the funding scheme of the 2025 Outstanding Research of Study Program (RU-PRODI).

Employee moonlighting: the role of human resource management practices, perceived employability and self-direction value

PurposeMoonlighting has become more popular today in many fields such as IT, healthcare and education. This research investigates the direct association between high-performance work system (HPWS) and employee moonlighting (EM) and the mediating effect of perceived employability (PE) in the above relationship. Moreover, the personal value of self-direction is included as a moderator between PE and moonlighting.Design/methodology/approachThis research follows a quantitative design. An online questionnaire survey is used to collect data. Data from 456 Vietnamese employees were analyzed with partial least square-structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) technique.FindingsHPWS is directly linked with EM. Perceived external employability fully mediates the above relationship. In addition, the personal value of self-direction intensifies the positive relationship between PE and EM.Research limitations/implicationsThe research suggests that HPWS can exert its influence on EM via both the universal and the critical pathways. Employees who perceive they have the ability to perform well in other jobs may decide to moonlight. Also, employees who find their jobs insecure under the coverage of HPWS may engage in moonlighting for security reasons. The implementation improves the employees’ PE which may encourage them to hold more jobs. In addition, attention should be paid to the personal value of the employees.Originality/valueThis study offers new insight into the HPWS and EM literature because it suggests that management practices can significantly influence EM, in addition to financial and security factors. Moreover, this study explores the indirect impact of PE in the HPWS–EM linkage. Finally, the moderation role of self-direction value represents a novelty.

The Role of Well-Being as a Value in Students’ Health-Conscious Lifestyles in the Context of the Role of Daily Physical Education

Abstract The Geneva Charter for Well-being (2021) states that for the health and well-being of the planet, society, community and individuals, we must support changes in social structures that help people take control of their own lives and health. The crisis of sport and health as values may also indirectly affect the value preferences of the younger generation regarding their lifestyle choices and the vision of society. The research investigates the impact of value transfer beyond the apparent boundaries of sport on the lifestyle and well-being of university students who regularly participate in sport and those who are physically passive. 1521 students learning at the University of Debrecen and the University of Nyíregyháza completed our online questionnaire, which integrated questions on socio-demographic background, physical health status, mental status, stress workload, risk index, physical activity index, eating patterns and value preferences. Univariate and multivariate analysis methods were applied. Our study values suggest an increasing search for a sense of safety in the age group, independent of sporting activity (this may also raise questions about the social background of the disadvantaged region). Our results show that students mainly emphasised the “open” or post-material value dimension of individual autonomy in the relationship between sports activity and value orientation. A complex mechanism of action can be experienced when examining value orientations, so we cannot show any causal links in our analysis. This study highlights the complex relationships between personal values and health behaviours among university students. It reveals that material, traditional and autonomy-oriented values influence health perceptions and certain lifestyle choices The relevance and novelty of our study is that the new generation of students who have already participated in the new implementation process in physical education and who have already been involved in the public education system has not yet been studied from this point of view.

A Socio-pragmatic Analysis of Jordanian University Students’ Status Updates

Some new sources of communication such as Facebook, WhatsApp and others have contributed to the social and academic development of various individuals worldwide. This socio-pragmatic study aims to investigate types of speech acts and gender differences in language usage among university students, focusing on WhatsApp. WhatsApp is used for various purposes and allows for a wide range of vocabulary and linguistic structures in different expressive formats, including images and text. Specifically, the study purports to examine the increasing use of WhatsApp and understand its impact on social interactions and academic performance of Jordanian university students from three universities. A total of 100 WhatsApp status updates were collected to study the influence of the main factor, gender, on these updates. Subsequently, a questionnaire was distributed to a sample of 100 students to elicit their opinions regarding status updates. The study reveals that personal interests, values, and personalities exhibit significant variability, affecting how students choose to represent themselves through their status updates. Male students often emphasize their academic and professional accomplishments, while female students tend to prioritize social connections and personal experiences. Assertive, directive and expressive speech acts are found to be the most commonly used in our sample’s status updates.

Visionary leadership: Development dialogues that increase value congruence, vision valence, and employee engagement

Engaged employees are a central part of a well-functioning public organization. When leaders practice visionary leadership, they can support value congruence, vision valence, and employee engagement. However, it can be challenging to implement this form of leadership, and the literature does not provide many suggestions on how to approach visionary leadership in practice. This article unfolds how goal-oriented development dialogues can serve as a framework for exercising visionary leadership and offers a practical model for conducting such dialogues. The article is based on a 15-month field experiment involving 226 Danish leaders and 4,442 job center employees. The empirical findings show that goal-oriented development dialogues increase the alignment between employees’ personal values and the organization’s values, and that the dialogues enhance employees’ vision valence and work engagement. The findings also demonstrate that leadership training programs designed with a combination of classroom-based training, action learning elements, and digital leadership tools can promote leaders’ adoption of these development dialogues.

Steering Sustainability: The Interplay of CEO Imprints, Organizational Performance, and Government Policies in Green Innovation

How do CEOs’ unique early-life experiences—particularly those shaped by formative influences such as military training—impact their subsequent strategic decision-making in green innovation? By integrating upper-echelon theory, imprinting theory, and the green innovation literature, this paper explores whether and when a CEO’s military background influences a firm’s adoption of green innovation practices, specifically within an emerging market context. Analyzing a sample of 1419 Chinese listed firms over the period from 2007 to 2016, our results reveal a significant positive effect of a CEO’s military experience on the firm’s green innovation performance. Furthermore, we find that a firm’s positive financial performance amplifies the influence of the CEO’s military imprint on green innovation outcomes. However, the intensity of government environmental regulation moderates this effect, weakening the relationship between the CEO’s personal values and the firm’s green innovation performance. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

Mitigating Ethnic Moral Disengagement: The Role of Inhibitory Control, Cognitive Reflection, and Growth-Oriented Personal Values from an Integrative Perspective

Despite the consequences of ethnic moral disengagement, such as ethnic bullying, racism, and prejudice, a comprehensive understanding of how to effectively counter it remains an ongoing area of research. The present study proposes an association between ethnic moral disengagement and three individual dimensions: the executive function of inhibitory control, a reflective cognitive style, and personal values that reflect growth-oriented motivations in contrast to self-defensive ones. By evaluating these dimensions respectively through a behavioral task, a cognitive measure, and a self-report instrument, the aim is to understand the role of basic behavioral capability, cognitive reflection, and growth-oriented values in reducing ethnic moral disengagement. The study, conducted on 413 participants (243 female, M = 19.60 years, SD = 1.46) using a structural equation modeling approach, found that while inhibitory control was not significantly linked to ethnic moral disengagement, reflective information processing and broader value horizons may constitute a key resource for opposing it. Overall, these results suggest that individuals who adopt such a reflective and growth-oriented mindset may elaborate differences and unfamiliar encounters as opportunities rather than as threats to be defended against by justifying themselves and externally displacing responsibility for their decisions and actions.

Circular Business Models and Sustainable Behavior: An Integrated Framework Based on the COM-B Model

Objective: This study aims to understand how circular business models can effectively influence consumer behavior towards sustainability, using the COM-B model (Capability, Opportunity, Motivation - Behavior) as an analytical framework. The central objective is to demonstrate that the integration of circular practices not only reduces environmental impacts but also redefines the consumer's role as an active agent in the regenerative economy. Theoretical Framework: It is based on contemporary concepts of circular economy, highlighting frameworks and consumer-oriented approaches such as the sharing economy and product lifecycle extension. These theories underscore that consumer behavior is a central component in the transition to more sustainable economic systems. Method: The theoretical approach relied on an extensive literature review on circular business practices and behavioral studies. Through the COM-B model, a framework was structured to analyze the interactions between behavioral components and business models. Results and Discussion: The study argues that consumers' ability to adopt circular practices depends on clear information, economic incentives, and adequate infrastructure. Additionally, it demonstrates that motivation is amplified by personal values and trust in companies aligned with sustainability. However, challenges such as cultural resistance and institutional barriers still limit broader adoption. Research Implications: The research reinforces the need for integrated strategies among consumers, businesses, and governments to enable the adoption of circular models. The impact transcends the economic sphere, influencing public policies and redefining consumption patterns. Originality/Value: This paper stands out by proposing a holistic and practical approach to integrate circular business models with behavioral changes, contributing to a research agenda focused on concrete solutions in sustainability.

Gamispotify: a gamified social music recommendation system based on users’ personal values

Abstract In this article, we have introduced Gamispotify. For the first time, in a social network-based environment, and by benefiting from gamification and crowdsourcing, Gamispotify recommends music to the users based on their personal values. The proposed method has been compared to another published article by conducting two experiments and surveys on 32 application participants. Experimental results indicate that user engagement has significantly increased using the proposed method. Spending time on the application increased by 299.48%, the music play count increased by 150%, and receiving music recommendations increased by 244.41%. Statistical analysis using the Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Test confirmed these improvements were significant (p < 0.05). Moreover, survey results support these findings and show a notable increase in user satisfaction with the proposed music recommendation system compared with the previous work (p = 0.019). It also indicates that the proposed method successfully motivated users to discover new songs (p = 0.043). We have also found that social networking features, recommendations based on personal values, and gamification have positively impacted the users’ motivation to use the music streaming application.

Do What You Say—Computing Personal Values Associated with Professions Based on the Words They Use

Members of a profession frequently show similar personality characteristics. In this research, we leverage recent advances in NLP to compute personal values using a moral values framework, distinguishing between four different personas that assist in categorizing different professions by personal values: “fatherlanders”—valuing tradition and authority, “nerds”—valuing scientific achievements, “spiritualists”—valuing compassion and non-monetary achievements, and “treehuggers”—valuing sustainability and the environment. We collected 200 YouTube videos and podcasts for each professional category of lawyers, academics, athletes, engineers, creatives, managers, and accountants, converting their audio to text. We also categorize these professions by team player personas into “bees”—collaborative creative team players, “ants”—competitive hard workers, and “leeches”—selfish egoists using pre-trained models. We find distinctive personal value profiles for each of our seven professions computed from the words that members of each profession use.

Gen Z Perceptions And Expectations Of Culinary Quality And Service Transformation

Gen Z's perceptions and expectations regarding the transformation of culinary quality and service are influenced by significant changes in food preferences influenced by social, cultural, and technological factors. Generation Z—born between 1997 and 2012—tends to try various types of food from different cultures and is very interested in innovation and sustainability in food. Generation Z prefers to try new foods and create unique flavor combinations. More than 70% of them admit to often trying foods they have never tried before, reflecting a desire to experience various flavors. Additionally, they are more likely to choose foods that align with personal values such as sustainability and health. Social media plays a significant role in shaping Generation Z's culinary preferences. They actively share their culinary experiences and often seek inspiration from food influencers on platforms like Instagram and TikTok. This shows that understanding food is very important in attracting the attention of this generation. The culinary industry faces the challenge of meeting the increasingly diverse demands of Generation Z. Companies must innovate in their products and services to attract the interest of Generation Z, including providing healthy and environmentally friendly food. Research results show that the main factor influencing consumer decisions to purchase products and services is their quality. About 60% of Gen Z customers feel dissatisfied with certain products and services. Generation Z hopes the culinary industry can respond to their demands, especially for new products and better services. Overall, Generation Z's perceptions and expectations regarding the transformation of culinary quality and service indicate that they are seeking satisfying dining experiences. They also want to contribute to the sustainability and ethics of the food industry, in line with the growing awareness of social and environmental issues. Keywords: Gen Z, Perception, Hope, Culinary Transformation, Food Quality, Service, Technology, Sustainability

Validation of an instrument to assess student pharmacist self-authorship.

Self-authorship is the creation of one's own perspective by contextually evaluating evidence, constructing independent beliefs, and maintaining capacity to consider outside perspectives. Transitioning between cognitive self-authorship stages is common during higher education. Despite correlation to several co-curricular subdomains, instruments to measure self-authorship are limited, however, one such instrument has been developed within medical education and would benefit use within pharmacy education. All student pharmacists at two public, 4-year pharmacy programs were invited to complete a voluntary, anonymous survey measuring self-authorship. The instrument was adapted from existing validated survey instruments. To ensure validity and reliability among, structural equation modeling and Chronbach's alpha was used to analyze three factors (Career Development, Data Interpretation & Decision Making, and Ethics & Values). A total of 157 surveys were completed. The mean age of respondents was 28years and 79.17% were female. Validation analysis found that results from the two institutions have an acceptable fit for the Career Development and Data Interpretation & Decision Making factors, with the Ethics and Values factor having a poor model fit (RMSEA=0.08, 0.09, 0.29 respectively). Each factor yielded a good level of internal consistency for the current stage of research (α=0.49, 0.52, 0.72 respectively). This development of an instrument assessing self-authorship among student pharmacists has wide-reaching applicability to assess and inform students in their journey towards exploring personal and professional values. The adaptation of this instrument has resulted in one which is valid and reliable for the current stage of research within student pharmacists. Future steps including using this instrument to determine if particular educational interventions or progression across curricular elements impact self-authoring.

Abstract TP123: Physician perspectives on acute evaluation and determining goals of stroke care for people living with dementia or disability: Results from the SEED mixed-methods study

Background: Around one in three strokes are experienced by people living with disability or dementia (PLWD), yet there is currently no consensus to guide physicians in evaluating baseline status in this patient population and determining goals of care. We sought to understand how physicians currently approach this complex issue and what challenges they encounter as a critical step towards informing evidence-based best practices for PLWD. Methods: Through separate recruitment strategies, we invited physicians involved in stroke care to participate in semi-structured, in-depth interviews and an online survey, inquiring into perspectives on evaluation and management of PLWD. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed applying an interpretive grounded theory approach, using constant comparison throughout the coding process to establish themes and subthemes. Results were triangulated with findings from a descriptive analysis of survey responses. Results: Twenty-eight physicians participated in interviews, while 134 provided survey data, representing 17 countries and 10 medical specialties. Among factors most frequently rated as extremely important in stroke care decision-making (by ≥40% of respondents) were severity of pre-existing dementia/disability and baseline quality of life. Concurrently, interviews highlighted considerable challenges in assessing these factors given time constraints in the acute setting and crudeness of popular screening measures, which fail to capture relevant nuances in patients’ baseline status. Participants further spoke to uncertainties in determining goals of care that align with patients’ best interest. Here, emphasis was placed on the inappropriateness of a mainstream conceptualization of a favorable outcome as maintaining independence, and the need to consider variability in personal and cultural values, support networks, and the broader socioeconomic context. In navigating the complexities of patient-centric care for PLWD who are often unable to voice their wishes, family input and advanced care directives were identified as key facilitators. Conclusions: This mixed-methods study highlights the need for creating evidence-based, tailored strategies for assessing pre-stroke status and defining favourable outcomes for PLWD. Achieving these goals relies on future research co-production with PLWD and their families, ensuring integration of patient priorities and appropriate operationalization of relevant post-stroke outcomes.

Does Status or Meaning Lead to Greater Well-Being at Work?

This article explores the ongoing debate between whether pursuing status or finding meaning leads to greater well-being and job satisfaction in the long run. It reviews the latest research on the "status theory of happiness" versus the "meaning theory of happiness," which consistently shows that meaningful work, rather than status-seeking, is the key driver of employee happiness, engagement, and productivity. The article then provides practical recommendations for organizational leaders on how to cultivate more meaningful work, such as connecting jobs to personal values, fostering a sense of purpose, supporting growth and development, recognizing meaningful contributions, and building community. It highlights case studies of companies like Patagonia and Enterprise that have successfully implemented these principles to boost employee well-being and sustainable business success. The article concludes that prioritizing meaningful work should be a top strategic priority for leaders seeking to maximize both employee happiness and organizational performance.

Existentialism in the age of climate crisis: Freedom, responsibility and authentic living amid global challenges

This research investigates the philosophical contributions of existentialism to understanding and addressing the global climate crisis. Drawing on the foundational ideas of Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, Sartre, and de Beauvoir, the study explores how existential themes - freedom, responsibility, and authenticity - offer tools for grappling with the ethical and existential dilemmas posed by ecological destruction. Existentialism’s emphasis on human agency is juxtaposed against the collective nature of environmental responsibility, revealing tensions between individual actions and systemic change. Central existential concepts, including the absurd and alienation, are analyzed to uncover their relevance in fostering ethical resilience and guiding action amidst the uncertainties of the Anthropocene. The study argues that existentialism challenges humanity to confront the climate crisis authentically, rejecting nihilism and embracing responsibility for the self and future generations. Through the lens of existential thought, the research underscores the imperative of aligning personal values with environmental ethics while advocating for systemic transformations that address the climate emergency. Existentialism’s focus on the individual’s ability to create meaning through deliberate choices provides a philosophical foundation for engaging with the moral complexities of climate justice and sustainability. The research concludes that existentialist philosophy not only critiques humanity’s historical failures but also offers a hopeful framework for constructing a meaningful response to the climate crisis. It calls for embracing the freedom to act in ways that promote sustainability and intergenerational justice, transforming despair into purposeful action amid an indifferent universe.

Descriptive Norms, Personal Values, Organizational Pro-Environmental Support: Providing Intrinsic or Extrinsic Attributions to Increase Pro-Environmental Behaviors

In response to the climate crisis, organizations are encouraging employees to adopt pro-environmental behavior (PEB). While descriptive norm interventions (e.g., many people engaging in PEBs) are generally positive, mixed findings suggest an alternative approach may maximize effects. Using self-concordance theory, we hypothesize that the attribution of normative behavior (intrinsic/extrinsic) interacts with personal values to motivate behavior, especially for those with extrinsic values. In a time-lagged experiment with 1,712 participants, we tested descriptive norms with either intrinsic or extrinsic attributions, a norm-only condition, or no norm. Surprisingly, self-concordant attributions did not increase PEB, and extrinsic attributions led to a greater increase than intrinsic or norm-only conditions. Organizational pro-environmental support correlated independently with PEB but the moderation effect was non-significant. These counterintuitive findings suggest further exploration and implications for future research.

Influence of Celebrity Endorsement on Public Relations Campaigns in Canada

Purpose: The study set out to influence of celebrity endorsement on public relations campaigns in Canada Methodology: This study adopted a desk methodology. A desk study research design is commonly known as secondary data collection. This is basically collecting data from existing resources preferably because of its low cost advantage as compared to a field research. Our current study looked into already published studies and reports as the data was easily accessed through online journals and libraries. Findings: Studies indicate that Canadian audiences are more likely to trust brands associated with credible and relatable celebrities, especially in campaigns addressing social or environmental issues. Effective endorsements lead to improved brand perception, with authenticity and alignment between the celebrity's image and the brand's values being critical factors. However, the impact can be negative if the celebrity is involved in controversies, highlighting the need for careful selection. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: Source credibility theory, match-up hypothesis & social learning theory may be used to anchor future studies on the PR professionals should carefully select celebrities whose personal values and public image align with the brand’s mission to ensure authenticity in the endorsement process. Policymakers in the advertising and public relations sectors should consider establishing ethical guidelines around celebrity endorsements, especially regarding transparency, authenticity, and accountability.

Enhancing professionalism in post-graduate medical education: the initial implementation and evaluation of a longitudinal curriculum for geriatrics residents in Toronto, Canada

Background: Professionalism is vital in medicine, yet gaps exist in its teaching within post-graduate medical education (PGME). Methods: We developed an eight-session curriculum on professionalism for geriatrics residents at the University of Toronto. Topics included personal-professional identity, physician well-being, communication, and leadership, incorporating a focus on self-reflection throughout. We evaluated the curriculum in two ways: (1) we captured immediate reactions using standard evaluations with Likert-scale questions on teaching effectiveness. (2) Graduated residents participated in semi-structured interviews to assess deeper reactions and longer-term impacts on professional identity and practice. Interview transcripts were rigorously analyzed using thematic. Results: The teaching effectiveness scores averaged from 80 written evaluations were excellent: 4.45/5 (89%). We interviewed 12 of 22 eligible graduates (55%). Thematic analysis demonstrated that the curriculum impacted residents in three key thematic areas: (1) it led participants to understand their role as physicians in a more comprehensive way, while staying consistent with their personal values and strengths. (2) Communication skills training in particular equipped learners with important skills needed to enact their professional standards. (3) Through developing a supportive community and practicing mindful self-reflection, participants reported improvements in their well-being. Conclusions: This paper demonstrates that professionalism can and should be integrated into the formal curriculum of post-graduate medical education. Key success factors in our study included a focus on fostering peer support and training in communication skills as a concrete method to actualize personal professional standards.

Cultural and personal values interact to predict divorce

We investigate the role of values in motivating the dissolution of marriage. Drawing on comprehensive value frameworks, we study how cultural values explain cross-national variation in divorce, how personal values explain further variation within nations, and how the two value systems interact together. In three archival studies, including more than 100,000 participants from over 55 countries, we study attitudes toward divorce as well as actual divorce. We found that divorce was more justifiable and likely in nations emphasizing autonomy values, and among individuals ascribing importance to self-direction, stimulation, and hedonism values. Divorce was less justifiable and likely in nations emphasizing embeddedness values, and among individuals ascribing importance to tradition and conformity values. Overall, the impact of personal values was stronger the more the culture emphasizes autonomy (vs. embeddedness) values. Understanding the role of values in divorce may inform individuals as to the values they desire in their future spouses.