Materialism, Stress and Health Behaviors among Future Educators

Abstract

In this study we investigated materialism among future educators and its relationship with stress and a number of health behaviors. Participants were 228 students (Mean= 20.64 years of age, S.D= 2.571) of the Department of Education Sciences in Early Childhood of the University of Thrace, Greece. The instrument consisted of a short form of the Material Values Scale with three subscales, pertaining to the following three domains: possession-defined success, acquisition centrality and acquisition as the pursuit of happiness. Measurements also included the Perceived Stress Scale and questions on several health behaviors. The findings suggested that materialism values were held by 40% of the participants whereas the component of materialism as happiness pursuit particularly was related to higher levels of stress. Finally, the younger the future educators were the more materialistic values they held. Suggestions for further research are discussed and, considering that children use their educators as models, health promoting interventions that take into account materialism effects are suggested.