Values and Stress: Examining the Relations Between Values and General and Domain-Specific Stress in Two Longitudinal Studies

Stress experiences have been found to vary at both the interindividual and intraindividual levels. The present study investigated the concurrent and longitudinal associations between values and stress at both the between-person and the within-person levels. We considered multiple aspects of stress, including selfreported stressor exposure and perceived stress, as well as general and domain-specific stress. In Study 1, data were drawn from the Midlife in the United States (N = 3,905) to test the between-person concurrent and prospective relations between values, changes in values, and general and domain-specific perceived stress. In Study 2, data from the Longitudinal Internet Studies for the Social Sciences (N = 13,940) were used to examine the associations between values and general and domain-specific self-reported stressor exposure and perceived stress at the between- and within-person levels. The results supported meaningful associations between values and individual differences in self-reported stressor exposure and perceived stress. In general, growth-oriented values consistently displayed negative relations to perceived stress, especially in the job domain. Social-focused values also showed negative associations with stress experiences. After controlling for between-person variance, temporal relations were also found between values and stress at the within-person level, with the pattern varying across types and domains of stress. Findings from the present study provide us with insights into the interindividual and intraindividual processes of values and stress.