The paper presents findings of a study of individual values of Russian adolescents which are analyzed as predictors for experiencing happiness in adolescence. A survey involving 7468 respondents aged 14 to 19 was conducted simultaneously in eight regions of Russia. The study is based on Sh. Shwartz's values theory which enables the researcher to study values at the cultural and the individual levels including individual differences in value priorities and their impact on attitudes and behavior. The findings show that young people attach the most importance to values like goodwill, hedonism, independence, reputation and safety. Less important are conformity, traditions and modesty. Assessment of regression models demonstrates that important parameters of happiness are values included in the meta-value preservation. Young people value traditions (family, religion), safety and the tendency to comply with the rules of society. In spite of the low rating given by respondents to family and cultural traditions (components of the first order value preservation) they are a significant predictor of happiness. Findings show that adolescents living in rural areas where traditions and conservative values prevail, feel happier. It was also discovered that experiencing of happiness in adolescence has a specific characteristic - pursuit of happiness is accompanied by denial of independence of own actions. Adolescents may lay responsibility for their actions on parents or other members of their family. Regression models show that a family which has a father and a mother, care for a narrow circle of close people are really happiness determinants.
