Age-Related Differences in Social Values from Adolescence to Later Adulthood: Associations with Depressive Symptoms and Perceived Social Status

Social value judgments help people evaluate which characteristics in others are desirable, affiliative, or potentially costly within social relationships. This cross-sectional study examined age-related differences in these judgments, and their associations with depressive symptoms and perceived social status, using a newly developed Social Value Questionnaire (SVQ) in a large English-speaking sample (N = 681, aged 12–65 years, M = 38.34, SD = 14.91; 66% female). Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses supported a four-factor structure comprising Warmth, Unpleasantness, Sociability, and Competence. Structural equation modeling showed age-graded differences in endorsement: Warmth was more strongly endorsed at older ages, whereas Unpleasantness, Sociability, and Competence were less strongly endorsed. Depressive symptoms and perceived social status were each uniquely associated with greater tolerance of Unpleasantness in others, independent of age. These findings suggest that social-evaluative preferences vary systematically across age groups, while also being linked to mood and perceived rank. We discuss these cross-sectional age differences in relation to lifespan motivational theory, contemporary models of social evaluation, and evolutionary accounts of depressed mood.