Abstract

This study examined the differences in values between Koreans in their 20s(n = 228) and 50s(n = 213) in two dimensions: agency and communion. We investigated the present values of each generation, and then asked each generation what values the other generation currently seemed to pursue. In addition, those in their 20s indicated the values that they would pursue in their future 50s, and those in their 50s rated the values that they had pursued in their past 20s. We also asked participants about self-esteem and life satisfaction to see how each generation's current agentic and communal values might affect their self-esteem and life satisfaction. Results showed that those in their 20s were relatively more concerned about agentic values, while those in their 50s placed more importance on communal values. However, both generations perceived that the other generation currently held more agentic but less communal values. Furthermore, there was no significant difference between the values pursued by the current 20s and those by the 50s in their past 20s. The same was true between the values pursued by the current 50s and those by the 20s in their future 50s. Finally, communal values had a positive relationship with self-esteem and life satisfaction for those in their 20s, but for those in their 50s, agentic values were only related to better life satisfaction. Implications and limitations of the study were discussed, and suggestions for future studies were made.