How adolescents understand their values: a qualitative study
Open accessAbstract
An important component of some psychological therapies is the use of clients' values to motivate behaviour change. Values are understood to be developed during childhood and adolescence but there has been limited exploration of how young people experience values and their function across contexts. This study aimed to explore adolescents' understanding of the concept of 'values' and to elicit their experiences of values. Semi-structured, individual interviews were conducted with 11 adolescents aged 12-17 years. Thematic analysis was used to identify themes. Young people were readily able to discuss the meaning of 'values' and their own personal values. Three main themes were identified: (1) what values are (in general, and specific to themselves), (2) where values come from (relationships, education, growing up), and (3) why values are important (prioritising/decision making, reflecting on values is helpful). The adolescents in this study demonstrated an in-depth understanding of the meaning, origins and functions of values. The results suggest young people may welcome and benefit from opportunities to discuss their values, including in therapy.
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
Research exploring how adolescents understand their values indicated a link between values and self-concept and that values could guide and motivate behavior aligned with short- and long-term goals.
“Moreover, research exploring how adolescents understand their values indicated a link between values and self-concept and that values could guide and motivate behavior aligned with short-and long-term goals (Lewis-Smith et al., 2021).”
From “And I Can Remind Myself That I Am All Of This”: adolescents’ experiences of group-based acceptance and commitment therapy (2024) · cites this paper as Lewis-Smith et al., 2021
Self-check
Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.
The self-check needs the paper’s full text.
Cites
Using thematic analysis in psychology
Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006) · Qualitative Research in Psychology · doi:10.1191/1478088706qp063oa · Cited by 194,414 · see citing works
Kessler, R. C., Berglund, P., Demler, O., Jin, R., Merikangas, K. R., & Walters, E. E. (2005) · Archives of General Psychiatry · doi:10.1001/archpsyc.62.6.593 · Cited by 20,391 · see citing works
Schwartz, S. H. (1992) · Advances in Experimental Social Psychology · doi:10.1016/s0065-2601(08)60281-6 · Cited by 14,619 · see citing works
Are There Universal Aspects in the Structure and Contents of Human Values?
Schwartz, S. H. (1994) · Journal of Social Issues · doi:10.1111/j.1540-4560.1994.tb01196.x · Cited by 5,803 · see citing works
Refining the theory of basic individual values.
Schwartz, S. H., Cieciuch, J., Vecchione, M., Davidov, E., Fischer, R., Beierlein, C., Ramos, A., Verkasalo, M., Lönnqvist, J.-E., Demirutku, K., et al. (2012) · Journal of Personality and Social Psychology · doi:10.1037/a0029393 · Cited by 1,953 · see citing works
Values and Behavior: Strength and Structure of Relations
Bardi, A., & Schwartz, S. H. (2003) · Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin · doi:10.1177/0146167203254602 · Cited by 1,669 · see citing works
International Journal of Methods in Psychiatric Research
Bhugra, D., Bhui, K. S., Desai, M., Singh, J., & Baldwin, D. (2006) · International Journal of Methods in Psychiatric Research · doi:10.1002/(issn)1557-0657 · Cited by 1,492 · see citing works
(1996) · Cited by 1,455 · see citing works
Adolescent Development in Interpersonal and Societal Contexts
Smetana, J. G., Campione-Barr, N., & Metzger, A. (2006) · Annual Review of Psychology · doi:10.1146/annurev.psych.57.102904.190124 · Cited by 1,264 · see citing works
A Rose by Any Name? The Values Construct
Rohan, M. J. (2000) · Personality and Social Psychology Review · doi:10.1207/s15327957pspr0403_4 · Cited by 1,067 · see citing works
Identity status change during adolescence and young adulthood: a meta-analysis
Kroger, J., Martinussen, M., & Marcia, J. E. (2010) · Journal of Adolescence · doi:10.1016/j.adolescence.2009.11.002 · Cited by 690 · cited 2× · see citing works
“Adolescence is an important period in the development of identity and autonomy (Fleming, 2005; Kroger et al., 2010) and a period when mental health problems often emerge for the first time (Kessler et al., 2005).”
BackgroundGiordano, P. C. (2003) · Annual Review of Sociology · doi:10.1146/annurev.soc.29.010202.100047 · Cited by 664 · see citing works
A Brief Behavioral Activation Treatment for Depression: Treatment Manual
Lejuez, C. W., Hopko, D. R., & Hopko, S. D. (2001) · Behavior Modification · doi:10.1177/0145445501252005 · Cited by 611 · see citing works
Lejuez, C. W., Hopko, D. R., Acierno, R. E., Daughters, S. B., & Pagoto, S. (2011) · Behavior Modification · doi:10.1177/0145445510390929 · Cited by 574 · see citing works
Development of the self-concept during adolescence.
Sebastian, C., Burnett, S., & Blakemore, S. (2008) · Trends in Cognitive Sciences · doi:10.1016/j.tics.2008.07.008 · Cited by 505 · see citing works
Dumontheil, I. (2014) · Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience · doi:10.1016/j.dcn.2014.07.009 · Cited by 293 · see citing works
Meaning Therapy: An Integrative and Positive Existential Psychotherapy
Wong, P. T. P. (2009) · Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy · doi:10.1007/s10879-009-9132-6 · Cited by 284 · see citing works
Thapar, A., & McGuffin, P. (1998) · Psychiatry Research · doi:10.1016/s0165-1781(98)00073-0 · Cited by 268 · see citing works
Stability and change of basic personal values in early adulthood: An 8-year longitudinal study
Vecchione, M., Schwartz, S., Alessandri, G., Döring, A. K., Castellani, V., & Caprara, M. (2016) · Journal of Research in Personality · doi:10.1016/j.jrp.2016.06.002 · Cited by 203 · see citing works
Value Attributions and Value Transmission between Parents and Children
Whitbeck, L. B., & Gecas, V. (1988) · Journal of Marriage and the Family · doi:10.2307/352651 · Cited by 197 · see citing works
Deduction, Induction, and Abduction
Kennedy, B. L., & Thornberg, R. (2018) · SAGE Publications Ltd eBooks · doi:10.4135/9781526416070.n4 · Cited by 175 · see citing works
Teachers’ views on values education: A qualitative study in Sweden and Turkey
Thornberg, R., & uz, E. O. (2013) · International Journal of Educational Research · doi:10.1016/j.ijer.2013.03.005 · Cited by 147 · see citing works
Changes in Young Europeans’ Values During the Global Financial Crisis
Sortheix, F. M., Parker, P. D., Lechner, C. M., & Schwartz, S. H. (2017) · Social Psychological and Personality Science · doi:10.1177/1948550617732610 · Cited by 146 · see citing works
Convincing Yourself to Care About Others: An Intervention for Enhancing Benevolence Values
Arieli, S., Grant, A. M., & Sagiv, L. (2013) · Journal of Personality · doi:10.1111/jopy.12029 · Cited by 132 · see citing works
The Stability and Change of Value Structure and Priorities in Childhood: A Longitudinal Study
Cieciuch, J., Davidov, E., & Algesheimer, R. (2015) · Social Development · doi:10.1111/sode.12147 · Cited by 131 · see citing works
Value development during adolescence: Dimensions of change and stability
Daniel, E., & Benish‐Weisman, M. (2018) · Journal of Personality · doi:10.1111/jopy.12420 · Cited by 98 · see citing works
Parent‐Child Value Similarity: The Role of Zeitgeist
Boehnke, K., Hadjar, A., & Baier, D. (2007) · Journal of Marriage and the Family · doi:10.1111/j.1741-3737.2007.00405.x · Cited by 96 · see citing works
(2015) · Research Bank (Australian Catholic University) · Cited by 87 · see citing works
Anxiety and Depression Screening for Youth in a Primary Care Population
Katon, W. J., Russo, J. E., Richardson, L. P., McCauley, E., & Lozano, P. (2008) · Ambulatory Pediatrics · doi:10.1016/j.ambp.2008.01.003 · Cited by 67 · see citing works
Values education and holistic learning: Updated research perspectives
Lovat, T. (2011) · International Journal of Educational Research · doi:10.1016/j.ijer.2011.07.009 · Cited by 49 · see citing works
A model for the role of similarity of values in friendship development
Lea, M., & Duck, S. W. (1982) · British Journal of Social Psychology · doi:10.1111/j.2044-8309.1982.tb00552.x · Cited by 38 · see citing works
Does the intra-individual structure of values exist in young children?
Lee, J. A., Ye, S., Sneddon, J., Collins, P. R., & Daniel, E. (2017) · Personality and Individual Differences · doi:10.1016/j.paid.2017.01.038 · Cited by 38 · see citing works
Adapting brief Behavioural Activation (BA) for adolescent depression: a case example
Pass, L., Brisco, G., & Reynolds, S. A. (2015) · The Cognitive Behaviour Therapist · doi:10.1017/s1754470x15000446 · Cited by 19 · see citing works
Self-citation
Flagged first, then by citations
3 of the 36 references couldn’t be matched to a known paper.
Research works printed but not linked: 3
- Fleming M. (2005). Adolescent autonomy: Desire, achievement and disobeying parents between early and late adolescence. Australian Journal of Educational & Developmental Psychology, 5, 1– 16.
- Hayes S. C. Strosahl K. D. Wilson K. G. (2011). Acceptance and commitment therapy: The process and practice of mindful change. Guilford Press.
- Solomon S. Knafo A. (2007). Value similarity in adolescent friendships. In Rhodes T. C. (Ed.), Focus on adolescent behavior research (pp. 133– 155). Nova.
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Sporting Mind: The Interplay of Physical Activity and Psychological Health
Martín-Rodríguez, A., Gostian, L. A., Beltrán-Velasco, A. I., Belando‐Pedreño, N., Simón, J. A., López-Mora, C., Navarro-Jiménez, E., Tornero-Aguilera, J. F., & Clemente‐Suárez, V. J. (2024) · Sports · doi:10.3390/sports12010037 · Cited by 450 · see citing works
Factors to consider when choosing data collection methods
Mwita, K. (2022) · International Journal of Research in Business and Social Science (2147-4478) · doi:10.20525/ijrbs.v11i5.1842 · Cited by 73 · see citing works
Wang, X.-H., Wang, H.-P., & Lai, W. (2022) · Sustainability · doi:10.3390/su15010426 · Cited by 36 · see citing works
Relationship Between Basic Human Values and Decision-Making Styles in Adolescents
Gallego, J. P., Oliva, Á. D. J., Castilla, F. J. G., & Plaza, Á. M. (2020) · International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · doi:10.3390/ijerph17228315 · Cited by 16 · see citing works
Misgav, K., Chomsky, A., & Daniel, E. (2023) · Social Development · doi:10.1111/sode.12666 · Cited by 24 · see citing works
The association between family adversity and youth mental health outcomes
Somefun, O. D., Theron, L. C., & Ungar, M. T. (2023) · Journal of Adolescence · doi:10.1002/jad.12205 · Cited by 9 · see citing works
Askew, R., & Ritter, A. J. (2023) · International Journal of Drug Policy · doi:10.1016/j.drugpo.2023.104257 · Cited by 9 · see citing works
Misgav, K., & Daniel, E. (2022) · Cognitive Development · doi:10.1016/j.cogdev.2022.101267 · Cited by 19 · see citing works
Exploring Children’s Values Questionnaire: Measurement, Gender, and Age Issues
Fyffe, L. R., & Hay, I. (2021) · Education Sciences · doi:10.3390/educsci11070309 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
Zhang, F., Zhang, S., & Gao, X. (2022) · Frontiers in Psychiatry · doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2022.882933 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
Cieciuch, J., Kwiatkowska, M. M., Kindschi, M., Davidov, E., & Algesheimer, R. (2024) · European Journal of Psychology of Education · doi:10.1007/s10212-024-00878-7 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Kaya, A., Karataş, N., & İşler, A. (2023) · Archives of Psychiatric Nursing · doi:10.1016/j.apnu.2023.06.007 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Lewis-Smith, I., Pass, L., Jones, D. J. W., & Reynolds, S. A. (2021) · Psychotherapy Research · doi:10.1080/10503307.2021.1898692 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Self-citationHodnoty českých a slovenských adolescentov pod vplyvom kyberpriestoru
Považanová, B., Dolejš, M., Kňažek, G., & Banárová, K. (2022) · doi:10.5507/ff.22.24462578 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Stability and Change of Personal Value in South Korean Adolescents: The Effect of Social Networks
Kim, K.-J., & Lee, Y. (2024) · Cross-Cultural Research · doi:10.1177/10693971241234106 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Cooper, M., Smith, S., Sumner, A. L., Eilenberg, J., Childs‐Fegredo, J., Kelly, S., Subramanian, P., Holmes, J., Barkham, M., Bower, P., et al. (2025) · Journal of Child and Family Studies · doi:10.1007/s10826-024-02955-3 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Brovold, F., Laugen, N. J., & Grøtte, T. (2024) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1458421 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Ulyanina, O. A., Радчикова, Н. П., Borisenko, E. V., & Рафиковна, Х. З. (2023) · Social Psychology and Society · doi:10.17759/sps.2023140310 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Values Scale for Positive Youth Development in Sport
Berengüí, R., Parra-Plaza, F. J., & Castejón, M. Á. (2024) · European Journal of Investigation in Health Psychology and Education · doi:10.3390/ejihpe14100175 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Tamm, A. (2021) · Eesti Haridusteaduste Ajakiri = Estonian Journal of Education · doi:10.12697/eha.2021.9.1.05 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Loades, M. E., & Essau, C. A. (2023) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-323-99613-6.00013-2 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Михайлович, Г. В., Феодосьевич, Б. А., & Zagasheva, M. V. (2024) · Vestnik of Minin University · doi:10.26795/2307-1281-2024-12-2-14 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Russo, C., Zagrean, I., Cavagnis, L., Cristalli, S., Valtulini, V., Danioni, F., & Barni, D. (2025) · Adolescents · doi:10.3390/adolescents5030040 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Zammit, L., Giordmaina, J., Marmarà, V., Fenech, C., Agius, M. M., & Tirazona, R. (2026) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1923199 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Psychodidactic foundations of the formation of adolescents' ability to understand lyric poetry
Mironova, K. V. (2021) · Perspectives of science and education · doi:10.32744/pse.2021.6.22 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Курень, С. Г., Белуженко, О. В., Demyanov, A., Dontsov, N., & Kosenko, E. (2024) · BIO Web of Conferences · doi:10.1051/bioconf/20248404043 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
RetractedValue-semantic interaction of adolescents with lyric poems during formative assessment
Mironova, K. V. (2021) · Gercenovskie čteniâ: psihologičeskie issledovaniâ v obrazovanii · doi:10.33910/herzenpsyconf-2021-4-53
Features of Formation of Value-and-Semantic Mindsets in Adolescence
Шевченко, Н. Ф. (2022) · Collection of Research Papers Problems of Modern Psychology · doi:10.32626/2227-6246.2022-56.189-210
Universiti Teknologi MARA Sabah Branch, K. K. C., RUDI, J. A., DANIEL, N. B., Universiti Teknologi MARA Sabah Branch, K. K. C., GATU, A., Universiti Teknologi MARA Sabah Branch, K. K. C., Musa, N. M., Universiti Teknologi MARA Sabah Branch, K. K. C., Zaidi, N. M. M., & Universiti Teknologi MARA Sabah Branch, K. K. C. (2023) · Borneo AKademika · doi:10.24191/ba/v7i1/79507
Łubianka, B., & Filipiak, S. (2023) · Kultura i Edukacja · doi:10.15804/kie.2023.02.06
Bochniarz, A., & Kirenko, J. (2024) · Journal of Modern Science · doi:10.13166/jms/185330
Xiao, M. (2024) · Communications in Humanities Research · doi:10.54254/2753-7064/34/20240179
Menjelajahi Budaya Pandhalungan melalui Teori Nilai Schwartz: Studi Pada Remaja di Jember
Widyarini, N., & Utama, J. S. A. (2024) · Jurnal Ilmiah Ilmu Sosial · doi:10.23887/jiis.v10i1.77159
Children as Organ Donors: A Model of Ethical Analysis
Howe, E. G. (2025) · The Journal of Clinical Ethics · doi:10.1086/733188
Zawadzka, A., Iwanowska, M., & Zawisza, M. (2026) · Current Psychology · doi:10.1007/s12144-025-08624-y
Scheier, L. M., Hansen, W. B., & Komarc, M. (2026) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1685340
Ohana, H., Schwartz, S. J., Ryzin, M. J. V., Arden, A., Elizarov, E., & Benish‐Weisman, M. (2026) · Journal of Research on Adolescence · doi:10.1111/jora.70188
The Pursuit of Valued Living: Applying a Values Targeted Approach With an Autistic Young Person
Wyn-Griffiths, M., & Fuidge, E.-M. (2026) · Clinical Case Studies · doi:10.1177/15346501261498368
Amaya, E., Osuna, L., & García, Y. (2026) · Behavior Modification · doi:10.1177/01454455261495101
- Authors
- Lewis-Smith, I., Pass, L., & Reynolds, S.
- Affiliations
- University of Reading (GB)
- University of East Anglia (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Lewis-Smith, Iona
- Venue
- Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2020-10-19
- Volume
- 26
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 231-242
- ISSN
- 1359-1045 (ISSN-L)
- 1461-7021
- PMC
- PMC7802049
- OpenAlex
- W3093084053
- Cited by
- 39
- References
- 36
- Citations by year
- 2026: 6 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 10 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 1
- FWCI
- 7.58
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Locations
- Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- CentAUR (University of Reading) (submittedVersion)
- UEA Digital Repository (University of East Anglia) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Charlie Waller Memorial Trust
- Titcomb Foundation Charitable Trust
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Education › Values and Moral Education
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Cultural Differences and Values
- Keywords
- adolescents, values, personal values, meaning of values, decision-making, behavior change, youth experiences
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Humans, Qualitative Research
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
