Materialism and egocentrism in Chinese adolescents in Hong Kong : perceptions of teachers

Abstract

While there are studies on materialism and egocentrism based on self-reports of adolescents, there are very few studies focusing on teachers' perceptions of materialism and egocentrism in their students and adolescents in general. In this study, teachers' perceptions (N = 568) of materialism and egocentrism in Chinese adolescents were examined. Findings showed that many teachers perceived that their students and adolescents in Hong Kong showed materialistic beliefs. A significant proportion of teachers also perceived that their students and adolescents in Hong Kong generally showed worrying signs of egocentrism. While background demographic factors (age, gender, religious orientation and teaching grades) were not related to adolescent materialism, teachers' perceptions of their students' egocentrism were related to teaching grades and teachers' perceptions of egocentrism in adolescents in general were related to age, gender, and teaching grades.