Longitudinal Associations Between Competition Contingent Self-Worth and Materialistic Values Among Chinese College Students: A Latent Growth Model

Abstract

This longitudinal study examined how the initial levels and change rates of competition contingent self-worth (CSW) predicted changes in materialistic values among college students during their first two college years. Participants were 948 students (607 females; M age = 18.61, SD age = .71 years, at Wave 1) from eight Chinese universities. Students’ competition CSW was measured annually across three waves, and their materialistic values were assessed at the last two waves. Latent growth analyses showed that Chinese college students generally experienced a mean-level decline in competition CSW from their freshmen to junior year. Students with higher initial levels or slower declining rates (or faster increasing rates) of competition CSW obtained greater increases in materialistic values over time. The results highlighted the potential role of competition CSW in contributing to the development of materialistic values among Chinese college students, which may pose threat to their well-being and comprehensive development in college.