Profile of personal values for health sciences students

Abstract

This study explores the personal values reported by Nursing, Physiotherapy and Social Work students and analyzes to what extent they fit the predictions made by the theory of intergenerational value change regarding the predominance of post-materialist values in younger generations. The participants stated their values in order of priority in an open-ended questionnaire. The sample was divided into three groups: A Nursing Students Group (NSG), made up of 150 participants; a Physiotherapy Students Group (PSG) represented by 150 participants, and a Social Work Students Group (SWSG) comprised of 150 participants. The results showed differences between the groups in the prioritized value categories and in each group’s resultant value profiles. The Physiotherapy and Social Work students’ values fitted the theory of value change predictions better, consequently giving post-materialist group profiles whilst the nursing students did not show results in line with the predictions, displaying an obviously materialist profile. Here, we discuss the results and their importance for the assessment of social change.