Analysis of Relationships between the Personality Traits and Value Preferences in a Polish Early Adolescent Sample. Do Gender and Age Play a Role?

This paper presents an analysis of the personality traits and value preferences of Polish early adolescent students. Participants were 775 adolescents between 12-14 years (53% girls; Mage= 13.01; SD= 0.81), who completed two surveys: Picture-Based Personality Survey for Children and PictureBased Value Survey for Children. Fourteen-year-old adolescents preferred more Power values and less Tradition and Conformity values than 12- and 13-year-olds. They were also less open to experience and conscientious than their younger counterparts. 14-year-old girls had a stronger preference for Power and Achievement values and a weaker preference for Conformity values than 12-year-old girls. 14-year-old boys preferred more Traditional values than 12-year-old boys. Both 14-year-old girls and boys were less conscientious than the younger adolescents. A regression analysis with an interaction effect indicated that each age group had different relationships between gender and personality traits and their interactions with the particular value categories. The results are discussed in the context of possible practical rearing influence aimed at supporting young, preferred values and personality development in the context of education.