Abstract
Backgrounds: Subjective well-being and subjective health status are significant indicators of healthy lives, and might be influenced by personal values shaped in adolescence. However, there are no studies that have examined the association between personal values in adolescence and subjective well-being in adulthood. The purpose of this study was to investigate this association in a large community adult sample in Japan. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study with retrospective recall, using data from a Japanese study on stratification, health, income, and neighborhood (J-SHINE) survey. We used data for demographic variables and outcome variables (i.e., meaning in life, life satisfaction, and subjective health status) in a Wave 1 survey, and data regarding personal values (i.e., value priorities based on Schwartz’s theory of basic values and commitment to values) at the age of 15 in a Wave 3 survey. Multiple linear regression analysis was conducted to investigate the association between personal values at the age of 15 and meaning in life, life satisfaction, and subjective health status in adulthood. Results: A total of 2,413 adults from the J-SHINE sample were included in the analysis. The adolescent values of “having influence on society,” “actively challenging,” “having and keeping a belief,” “exploring what you were interested in,” “graduating from a famous school,” and commitment to values were positively and significantly associated, while “being evaluated by others” in adolescence was negatively associated with meaning in life in adulthood. At the same time, commitment to values in adolescence was positively and significantly associated with life satisfaction in adulthood. With subjective health status in adulthood, the adolescent value of “graduating from a famous school” had a positive and significant correlation, while “maintain a stable life” had a negative and significant association. Conclusions: Personal values related to openness to change and self-enhancement, and commitment to values in adolescence might be associated with better subjective well-being and subjective health status in adulthood. The findings could be useful for programs that invest in adolescence, which can bring many benefits to adulthood.