Value correlates of student attitudes on social issues: A multination study

Abstract

A total of 2,568 college students in 6 westernized nations (the United States, Canada, the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, and Finland) were given the Student Survey Form to assess attitudes toward social change, use of force, militarism, racial identification, and use of drugs. Responses were then correlated with reported political ideology, past participation in demonstrations, and scales of the Survey of Interpersonal Values. Correlational results across nations were highly similar. Holding an ideological position of the left and having participated in demonstrations were more strongly related to favoring social change and opposing militarism. Conformity and benevolence were the more salient values, being associated with holding conservative and liberal positions, respectively, on 5 of the 6 issues. The leadership value was associated with favoring the use of force and militarism, while support and independence were related to having a favorable attitude toward drugs. Cross-cultural differences in strength of attitudes are discussed. (20 ref.) (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)