Generational Differences in Work Values: Leisure and Extrinsic Values Increasing, Social and Intrinsic Values Decreasing
Jean Twenge, Stacy Campbell, Brian Hoffman and Charles Lance compare work values across generations using a nationally representative sample of American high school seniors surveyed in 1976, 1991 and 2006, which they treat as Baby Boomers, Generation X and Generation Me. Leisure values rose across the generations and work centrality declined, extrinsic values peaked with Generation X but stayed higher for Generation Me than for the Boomers, and social and intrinsic values were lower for Generation Me. Contrary to popular press reports, altruistic values did not differ. The authors describe most effects as small to moderate, note that values were measured at school and not at work, and argue that work values form early and stay fairly stable into early adulthood. This page cites the study for the leisure result and for the time-lag design.
Jean Twenge, Stacy Campbell, Brian Hoffman and Charles Lance compare work values across generations using a nationally representative sample of American high school seniors surveyed in 1976, 1991 and 2006, which they treat as Baby Boomers, Generation X and Generation Me. Leisure values rose across the generations and work centrality declined, extrinsic values peaked with Generation X but stayed higher for Generation Me than for the Boomers, and social and intrinsic values were lower for Generation Me. Contrary to popular press reports, altruistic values did not differ. The authors describe most effects as small to moderate, note that values were measured at school and not at work, and argue that work values form early and stay fairly stable into early adulthood. This page cites the study for the leisure result and for the time-lag design.
Written from the author-posted copy of the paper, abstract and method read 2026-10-24.
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Twenge, J. M., Campbell, S. M., Hoffman, B. J., & Lance, C. E. (2010). Generational differences in work values: Leisure and extrinsic values increasing, social and intrinsic values decreasing. Journal of Management, 36(5), 1117-1142. doi:10.1177/0149206309352246