Identity Formation in Adolescence: Change or Stability?

Abstract

The aim of this five-wave longitudinal study of 923 early to middle adolescents (50.7% boys; 49.3% girls) and 390 middle to late adolescents (43.3% boys and 56.7% girls) is to provide a comprehensive view on change and stability in identity formation from ages 12 to 20. Several types of change and stability (i.e., mean-level change, rank-order stability, and profile similarity) were assessed for three dimensions of identity formation (i.e., commitment, in-depth exploration, and reconsideration), using adolescent self-report questionnaires. Results revealed changes in identity dimensions towards maturity, indicated by a decreasing tendency for reconsideration, increasingly more in-depth exploration, and increasingly more stable identity dimension profiles. Mean levels of commitment remained stable, and rank-order stability of commitment, in-depth exploration, and reconsideration did not change with age. Overall, girls were more mature with regard to identity formation in early adolescence, but boys had caught up with them by late adolescence. Taken together, our findings indicate that adolescent identity formation is guided by progressive changes in the way adolescents deal with commitments, rather than by changes in the commitments themselves.

Supporting Adolescent Exploration and Commitment: Identity Formation, Thriving, and Positive Youth Development

“…This premise is supported through research that shows most youth tend to make initial commitments toward identity in early adolescence that are explored in increasingly more depth in middle to late adolescence (Klimstra, Hale, Raaijmakers, Branje, & Meeus, 2010;Luyckx, Soenens, & Goosens, 2006;Meeus, Iedema, Helsen, & Vollebergh, 1999). Valde (1996) goes even further, arguing that once one has established an identity it is important to remain flexible in one's identity commitments.…”

Tapatumo procesų ir nerimastingumo/depresiškumo sąsajos tapsmo suaugusiu periode

“…Ši Marcia'os modelio kritika paskatino tolesnius tyrimus ir teorinius konceptualizavimus, be to, ir pats Marcia pripažino, jog yra svarbu tyrinėti tapatumo formavimosi procesus, nesikoncentruojant tik į raidos padarinius. Meeus ir jo kolegos Klimstra, Hale, Raaijmakers, Branje, & Meeus, 2010) praplėtė Marcia'os teorinę paradigmą ir sukūrė į procesą orientuotą tapatumo formavimosi modelį, pagal kurį tapatumo raida yra dinaminis įsipareigojimų priėmimo ir persvarstymo keitimasis, kai asmuo prisiima įsipareigojimus, o paskui persvarsto, ar tie įsipareigojimai atitinka jo savastį, ar ne. Taigi, Meeus (1996) bei Crocetti ir kiti (2008) pagrindiniais tapatumo formavimosi procesais laiko įsiparei-gojimą (angl.…”

“…Pavyzdžiui, Meeus, Schoot, Keijsers ir Branje (2012) teigia, kad paaugliai ir jaunuoliai nuolat persvarsto savo esamą įsipareigojimą, bū-tent todėl jis gali būti keičiamas. O štai kitų dviejų tapatumo procesų (įsipareigojimo bei išsamaus tyrinėjimo) ir lyties sąsajų buvo tyrėjai (pvz., Klimstra et al, 2010) apskritai mano, kad lyčių skirtumai tapatumo stiliuose labiau pastebimi paauglystėje nei jauno suaugusiojo amžiuje. Tačiau yra priešingų tyrimo rezultatų, kurie rodo, kad tapatumo stilius pagal lytį nesiskiria (Seaton & Beaumont, 2008;Šramová, Bianchi, Lášticová, Fichnová, & Hamranová, 2008;Vleioras & Bosma, 2005).…”

Identity crisis in the young blind and their impression of peer support

“…Marcia (1966) offers a view of identity formation, centered around two dimensions: exploration (of developmental alternatives in various domains) and commitment (selection of alternatives and engaging in activities). On the basis of these two dimensions, adolescent identity can be classified in four different types: diffusion (a less adaptive identity status); foreclosure; moratorium; and achievement (the most adaptive identity status) (Marcia, 1966;Klimstra, Hale, Raaijmakers, Branje, & Meeus, 2010).…”

“…Adolescence is the most turbulent period of life (Golombek & Marton, 1992;Marcia, 1966;Medovy, 1964) that has a crucial importance for identity formation (Klimstra, Hale, Raaijmakers, Branje, & Meeus, 2010;Waterman, 1982). Findings about the frequency of identity crisis, understood as a developmental difficulty on the road to maturation (Offer & Offer, 1975;Offer & Schonert-Reichl, 1992), are con-gruent with that.…”