Values Similarity between Parents and Adolescents: A Preliminary Investigation among Italian Adolescents

The goal of the present study was to investigate the roles gender and the content of basic and work values play in the values similarity between parents and adolescents. 160 high school Italian adolescents, age ranging from 17 to 19, and their parents had to respond to Work Values Inventory for Adolescents (WVI-A). The Work Values Inventory for Adolescents is designed to measure six dimensions: conservation, exploration, individuality, sociability, hedonistic values and self-actualization. They were also asked to respond to the Portrait Values Questionnaire (PVQ), which is designed to measure ten-dimensions: self-direction, stimulation, hedonism, achievement, power, security, conformity, tradition, benevolence, and universalism. Significant correlations were obtained between mother-father's values. Basic values (Security, Conformity and self direction) and work values (Self-actualization, and Individuality) were more closely related between fathers and sons, while basic values (Tradition and Benevolence), and work values (Self-actualization, conservation, exploration and Individuality) were related between fathers and daughters. Self-direction and achievement (basic values), and exploration and individuality (work values) were more closely related between mothers and sons. There was no relationship between mothers' values and their daughters.