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Changes in value priorities due to the COVID-19 pandemic—A 4-year cross-sectional study with German students

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  • Christian Hannes
  • Sarah Schiffer
  • Rüdiger von Nitzsch

Abstract

In March 2020, the WHO declared the coronavirus a pandemic. Since then, the German government has tried to control the spread of the virus with various restrictions. These restrictions had a direct impact on the life of German students. In this study, we investigate to what extent the restrictions led to a change of value priorities of German students. From January 2019 to January 2022, we conducted a cross-sectional study with four measurement points and, in total, 1,328 participants. Two measurement points were before the first outbreak of COVID-19 in Germany, one in the second lockdown phase and the third after two years in the pandemic. In this study, the students were asked to indicate their value priorities while solving a real-world decision problem important to them. Results suggest increased value priorities of the values Intellectual Fulfillment and Environment and Nature and a decrease of Family and Partner value priority as a direct effect of the second lockdown phase. We also found small differences regarding value priorities between the male and female subjects. The data show bounce-back effects as the pandemic became more normal to the students. In the long run, value priorities seem to be stable, with the exception of a longer-lasting increase in Freedom and Independence.

Suggested Citation

  • Christian Hannes & Sarah Schiffer & Rüdiger von Nitzsch, 2024. "Changes in value priorities due to the COVID-19 pandemic—A 4-year cross-sectional study with German students," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 19(1), pages 1-25, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0297236
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0297236
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Javier Cifuentes-Faura, 2020. "The Importance of Behavioral Economics during COVID-19," Journal of Economics and Behavioral Studies, AMH International, vol. 12(3), pages 70-74.
    3. Ralph L. Keeney, 1993. "Creativity in MS/OR: Value-Focused Thinking—Creativity Directed toward Decision Making," Interfaces, INFORMS, vol. 23(3), pages 62-67, June.
    4. Johannes Siebert & Ralph L. Keeney, 2015. "Creating More and Better Alternatives for Decisions Using Objectives," Operations Research, INFORMS, vol. 63(5), pages 1144-1158, October.
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