Assessment of identity development and identity diffusion in adolescence - Theoretical basis and psychometric properties of the self-report questionnaire AIDA

Abstract

BackgroundIn the continuing revision of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-V) “identity” is integrated as a central diagnostic criterion for personality disorders (self-related personality functioning). According to Kernberg, identity diffusion is one of the core elements of borderline personality organization. As there is no elaborated self-rating inventory to assess identity development in healthy and disturbed adolescents, we developed the AIDA (Assessment of Identity Development in Adolescence) questionnaire to assess this complex dimension, varying from “Identity Integration” to “Identity Diffusion”, in a broad and substructured way and evaluated its psychometric properties in a mixed school and clinical sample.MethodsTest construction was deductive, referring to psychodynamic as well as social-cognitive theories, and led to a special item pool, with consideration for clarity and ease of comprehension. Participants were 305 students aged 12–18 attending a public school and 52 adolescent psychiatric inpatients and outpatients with diagnoses of personality disorders (N = 20) or other mental disorders (N = 32). Convergent validity was evaluated by covariations with personality development (JTCI 12–18 R scales), criterion validity by differences in identity development (AIDA scales) between patients and controls.ResultsAIDA showed excellent total score (Diffusion: α = .94), scale (Discontinuity: α = .86; Incoherence: α = .92) and subscale (α = .73-.86) reliabilities. High levels of Discontinuity and Incoherence were associated with low levels in Self Directedness, an indicator of maladaptive personality functioning. Both AIDA scales were significantly different between PD-patients and controls with remarkable effect sizes (d) of 2.17 and 1.94 standard deviations.ConclusionAIDA is a reliable and valid instrument to assess normal and disturbed identity in adolescents. Studies for further validation and for obtaining population norms are in progress and may provide insight in the relevant aspects of identity development in differentiating specific psychopathology and therapeutic focus and outcome.

ESCAP Expert Article: Borderline personality disorder in adolescence: An expert research review with implications for clinical practice

“…First, with regard to diagnosis and assessment of personality disorder in adolescents, future research should incorporate a staging theory of BPD distinguishing early precursors and early manifestations of BPD symptoms, including developmentally adapted criteria for young and older adolescents [141]. Diagnosis of BPD should also integrate dimensional factors (as identified in factor analytic studies) alongside categorical DSM/ICD diagnostic criteria, including further research on the promising alternative model for personality disorders presented in Section III of DSM-5 [12, p. 761], which emphasizes impairments in self and relatedness as dimensional core features of personality disorders.…”

Discovering unique profiles of adolescent information and communication technology (ICT) use: Are ICT use preferences associated with identity and behaviour development?

“…This lack of certainty can result in the creation of a false self, a protective mask meant to diffuse the discrepancy between the adolescents' perceptions of who they are as opposed to how they believe they are perceived by other important people (Broughton, 1981;Dayton, 2009;Goth et al, 2012;Kernberg, 1985). The false self may initially be used to ward off anxiety or feelings of inferiority, but in some instances can become so well accepted that it is compulsive and unconscious as the adolescent loses sight of rectifying the discrepancies between the false and true selves (Dayton, 2009;Sartain, North, Strange, & Chapman, 1973).…”

Interconnection Between Adolescents Identity Formation, Relationships with Parents, Differentiation of Self and Satisfaction with Life

“…The mean of participants' age was 15.42 years, standard deviation -0.871. Participants were asked to fill questionnaire consisting of sociodemographic questions, Goth, Foelsch et al (2012) The results of this study had shown that adolescents identity diffusion interface positively with conflict behaviour with their parents, and negatively with adolescent's differentiation of self and satisfaction with life. There were also founded that differentiation of self and satisfaction of life mediate relationship between adolescents' conflict behaviour with parents and identity diffusion.…”

“…Pagal M. Boweno (1978) šeimos sistemų teoriją savidiferenciacijos procesas vyksta asmenybės raidos metu, kai asmuo išsiugdo unikalų savasties jausmą (tai būtų panašu su identiteto koncepcija), suvokia save kaip atskirą asmenybę ir išmoksta atskirti ir išlaikyti pusiausvyrą tarp savo mąstymo ir jausmų. Tai siejasi su paauglio identiteto integracija (teigiamai išspręsta krize, pasiektu identitetu), kuri, remiantis E. H. Eriksono (1968) teorija, gali būti apibūdinama tokiais aspektais kaip savo asmenybės pastovumo, autonomiškumo, savo bruožų, mąstymo ir jausmų suvokimas (Goth et al, 2012). M. Bowenas (1978) teigė, kad savidiferenciacijos lygis yra perduodamas iš kartos į kartą, tėvų vaikams multigeneracinio proceso metu.…”