Psychological Security and Values in Adolescents and Young People

Abstract

The article analyses the relation between psychological security (PS) and values in adolescent and young age. The value-semantic sphere of an individual determines his or her social behavior, and the strategic task of the education system is to create such educational environment that would promote the development of personal potential in students. The aim of the study is to identify the features and characteristics of students’ personal values in adolescence and young age depending on the level of their PS. The hypothesis was tested that the values of adolescents and young people with different levels of PS have different significance. The sample of the study consisted of 2789 first- year and second-year college students, aged 15-21 years. Significant differences in values at the level of normative ideals were found in groups with different levels of PS. There are also significant differences in the significance of values at the level of individual priorities which, in contrast to normative ideals, have a non-linear growth depending on the level of PS – the lowest values are observed in the group with an average level of PS. Values at the level of individual priorities in the group with a low level of PS are more significant than values at the level of normative ideals.