Materialism amid uncertainty: how intolerance of uncertainty shapes value shifts before and during the pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic's socioeconomic disruptions may have reshaped perspectives on the pursuit of material wealth (commonly referred to as materialistic values) in emerging adults, a developmental period sensitive to environmental influences. We examined materialism changes among individuals aged 17 to 23 using longitudinal data. Study 1 compared pre-pandemic (late 2019) and post-onset (late 2020) periods. Study 2 tracked changes during the pandemic (2022-2023). We also probed the moderating effect of intolerance of uncertainty (IU) on changes in materialism, considering the uncertain nature of the pandemic. Both studies revealed rising materialism, suggesting factors beyond the pandemic contributed to this trend. Crucially, longitudinal evidence indicated that IU moderated changes in materialism during the initial outbreak, but this effect was not observed in later stages of the pandemic. These findings highlight how uncertain situations interact with personality traits to shape value systems during global crises.