VALUES AS DETERMINANTS OF PSYCHOSOCIAL WE LL-BEING IN EAST AND WEST-BERLIN ADOLESCENTS

Psychosocial well-being is usually seen as a direct consequence of soc ialization. The present study, however, assumes a mediatory function o f value orientations: Socialization circumstances facilitate certain v alue orientations which in turn are the foundation of psychosocial wel l-being. The East-West Study of Berlin Adolescents presents data from seventh to tenth graders in two samples each from 1990 and 1991 (N > 5 00 per sample). It was studied to what extent socialization circumstan ces in the family and the social surroundings are related to collectiv istic versus individualistic value orientations, and in what manner th ese orientations are the foundation of high self-efficacy and high soc ial support. MANOVA and LISREL analyses show that family cohesion serv es as a determinant of the value orientations of East and West Berlin adolescents. Independent of <<culture>>, high cohesion facilitates col lectivistic values, whereas low cohesion results in individualistic va lues. Both orientations are positively related to self-efficacy. The m ediation model of psychosocial well-being gains support to the extent that individualistic values seem to function in a compensational manne r: They make it possible to achieve an acceptable psychosocial well-be ing under adverse socialization circumstances.