Examination of Young Adults’ Materialism in France and South Africa Using Two Life-Course Theoretical Perspectives

• Published in: Journal of family and economic issues Vol. 36; no. 2; pp. 251 - 262
• Main Authors: Duh, Helen Inseng, Benmoyal-Bouzaglo, Sarah, Moschis, George P., Smaoui, Lilia
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01-06-2015; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adolescence; Adolescents; Behavior; Births; Child development; Communication; Consumers; Consumption; Cultural differences; Culture; Economic models; Economic statistics; Economic theory; Families & family life; Family; Family structure; France; Human capital; Marriage; Materialism; Original Paper; Parents & parenting; Personality and Social Psychology; Psychological aspects; Social Policy; Social psychology; Social Sciences; Socialization; Sociology; South Africa; Studies; Teenage pregnancy; Young adults; Youth; France; South Africa; Peer communication; Life-course; Family resources; Culture; Family disruptions; Materialism
• ISSN: 1058-0476; 1573-3475
• DOI: 10.1007/s10834-014-9400-9

This study employed the human capital (in terms of family resources) and socialization (in terms of peer communication) life-course theoretical perspectives to examine the effects of disruptive family events experienced during adolescence on young adults’ materialism in France and South Africa. The study found that South African young adults were more materialistic than their French counterparts. While family resources received during adolescence did not have a significant impact on South African young adults’ materialism, these resources did significantly and positively affect French young adults’ materialism. The impact of peer communication about consumption during adolescence on materialism at young adulthood was positive and significant in both samples. Implications of the study’s findings and directions for further research are provided.