The present study used a delay discounting task and the Valued Living Questionnaire to examine the relationship between delay discounting and self-reported values. Thirty-eight participants completed the study. Participants were asked to make choices between immediate and delayed monetary rewards to determine rates of discounting. An exponential function (R2=0.97) provided a strong fit for discounting scores. On the Valued Living Questionnaire, participants rated on a Likert-type scale of 1-10 both the importance and their action in the previous week toward the following values: Family, marriage, parenting, friends, work, education, recreation, spirituality, community, and physical well-being. A composite valued living scored was calculated and compared to participant discounting rates; results suggest that there was a significant relationship between participant valued living scores and K-values (p<0.01) and participant valued living scores and AUC (p<0.02). The results of this study, while preliminary, are important for beginning to understand how values impact decision making.

Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) is an empirically supported cognitive behavioral therapy. The ACT model is designed around a set of six core processes utilized to increase psychological flexibility. Engagement with values, one of the six core processes, is associated with several indicators of well-being. However, recent reviews of ACT values measures from experts in the field raised concerns that current instruments do not adequately assess the values process. The current study examined the structure and psychometric properties of a new values measure, titled the Valued Living Questionnaire—Online version (VLQ-O), that was developed from considerations raised in these reviews. The results of an EFA indicated that the VLQ-O produced a three-factor structure comprised of Values Flexibility, Values Inflexibility, and Values Obligations. The Activity and Preferred Activity scores did not load consistently onto any discernable factor. The subscales of the VLQ-O produced poor internal consistency. The scores for Activity and Values Flexibility subscales correlated positively with measures of well-being and negatively with measures of psychological distress. Additionally, these subscales were significantly positively related to MPFI Flexibility and VQ Progress and well as negatively related to MPFI Inflexibility and VQ Obstruction. Values Inflexibility and Values Obligation correlated positively with measures of psychological distress and negatively with measures of well-being. The Values Obligation subscale did not correlate with social desirability. Multiple subscales of the VLQ-O demonstrated significant correlations with multiple subscales of the BFI. Additionally, the VLQ-O established predictive validity for measures of psychological distress and well-being. Further, it established improvements in predictive validity for flourishing and psychological distress when compared to the Valuing Questionnaire (VQ). Overall, the findings from this study provide some supportive preliminary evidence for the validity of the VLQ-O.