Identity development in early adulthood.

Abstract

This longitudinal study investigated identity development across early adulthood. To examine both stability and change in identity development, an explanatory mixed-methods design was employed. First, patterns of identity status development across early adulthood were examined, followed by an in-depth qualitative approach to understand more about the processes within identity status stability from the late 20s into the 30s. Analyses revealed group-level changes in identity status across ages 25 (Mage = 24.9, SD = 0.7), 29 (Mage = 29.3, SD = 0.6), and 33 (Mage = 33.3, SD = 0.5) among the 118 participants, with fewer individuals in moratorium and more in identity achievement in later years. Stable identity statuses with established commitments (identity achievement and foreclosure) were by far the most common patterns across early adulthood. To understand how early adults maintain their identity within these stable patterns, we employed longitudinal qualitative analyses of identity status interviews from ages 29 and 33. These analyses revealed 3 processes of identity development: approach to change (willingness to adjust and evolve previously established commitments), story integration (thematic and temporal integration, and metaexploration of previous identity work), and participation in a broader life context (identity expanding beyond personal aspirations). Together, these findings show that there is identity status change toward maturity across early adulthood and high stability within individual patterns. The findings also show that stable identity achievement facilitates further deepening within the three processes of identity development, and that stable foreclosure can be connected to both weakening and deepening in identity development.

What Is Real about “Real Time” Anyway? A Proposal for A Pluralistic Approach to Studying Identity Processes across Different Timescales

“…While the former is theoretically possible, the latter is more common, with researchers studying changes in identity statuses based on identity interviews over the course of several years. For example, Eriksson et al (2020) studied changes in individuals' identity statuses based on an identity status interview over a period of seven years.…”

“…Notably, Becht et al (2021) studied daily commitment and exploration processes within an interpersonal and educational domain over a period of five years using a three-item questionnaire, creating profiles of day-to-day patterns. In contrast, Eriksson et al (2020) recently studied changes in identity statuses across three intervals, spanning a seven-year period (ages 25 to 33), using identity status interviews.…”

A Conceptual Review of Identity Integration Across Adulthood

“…"MAMA" cycles (i.e., cycling between moratorium and achievement) have been proposed as a mechanism for adult identity revision, but the original data supporting this hypothesis only included college students (Stephen et al, 1992), and more recent investigations primarily focused on youth (e.g., Kunnen et al, 2008). Indeed, there has been little research applying status measures to adult samples (Meeus, 2011;see Carlsson et al, 2015;Cramer, 2017;Eriksson, Wängqvist, Carlsson, & Frisén, 2020;and Fadjukoff et al, 2016, for a few exceptions). Though processes of exploration and commitment may be part of adult identity development, they may be less central than in adolescence.…”

“…The active processes involved in maintaining an integrated identity have often been downplayed, as notions of adult identity development tend to focus on stability (Riegel, 1976). For example, labeling an individual as having an "achieved" identity status may hide subtle development, as identity is challenged, validated, and reconsidered in everyday life (Carlsson et al, 2015;Eriksson et al, 2020;Kunnen & Metz, 2015).…”

“…Qualitative empirical work has revealed additional mechanisms to describe how identity integration is maintained. Within the Gothenburg Longitudinal study of Development (GoLD; Lamb et al, 1988), two studies of individuals with established commitment and stable identity status between ages 25 to 29 (Carlsson et al, 2015) and 29 to 33 (Eriksson et al, 2020) identified three active aspects of identity maintenance across these periods of adult life. The first aspect concerns how identity commitments are continuously developed to stay relevant across time.…”