Multiple social identities and well‐being: Insights from a person‐centred approach

Abstract

Recent research on social identity and identity integration suggests that individuals who have multiple identities and who also successfully integrate them are better adjusted. We combine predictions from these studies and examine how social identification, together with identity integration, are related to psychological well‐being using a person‐centred approach. A first study (N = 2705) showed that the identity configuration characterized by high levels of identification with organization and gender, as well as the perception that these identities are well integrated, is associated with the highest level of well‐being. Conversely, the identity configuration characterized by low scores on gender and organization identifications and low levels of identity integration was associated with the lowest levels of well‐being. These findings were replicated in a second study (N = 8987) where organization and age‐group identification were analysed. We discuss the implications of these findings for the literatures on multiple social identities, identity integration and organizational climate.