Predicting Identity Status: The Role of Attachment, Differentiation, and Meaning Making

Abstract

Although identity is an important aspect of overall wellness, it is not yet understood how identity develops or how to accurately predict identity status. In this study of 192 emerging adult college students, the authors found that attachment, differentiation, and meaning-making subprocesses significantly predicted 3 of 4 identity statuses. Implications for counselors and counselor educators are discussed.Over 20 years ago, when discussing the historical and philosophical foundations of the American Counseling Association (ACA), Myers (1992) emphasized wellness, prevention, and development as the three cornerstones of professional counseling. In 1989, the American Association for Counseling and Development (the precursor to ACA) had adopted a resolution to highlight counselors' stance as professional advocates of health and wellness, and Myers focused on how these cornerstones supported counselors' work and identity. Today, wellness, prevention, and development are the main foci in our training and conceptualization as professional counselors, and these cornerstones undergird our work in helping clients to heal, grow, and develop.While counselor education programs focus on human development to understand how people heal, change, and grow, it is yet unclear how a very important factor of development-

Psychometric study of the differentiation of self scale-revised in a sample of Spanish adults

“…Numerous studies have confirmed that individuals with greater DoS suffer less anxiety and other psychological and physical symptoms and enjoy greater psychological wellbeing (e.g., Duch-Ceballos et al, 2020;Isik & Bulduk, 2015;Jankowski et al, 2013;Rodríguez-González et al, 2018;Sandage & Jankowski, 2010;Skowron et al, 2009). In addition, more differentiated people seem to have better emotional self-regulation, higher self-esteem and greater identity development, better social skills and more secure adult attachments (e.g., Borondo & Oliver, 2021;Cavaiola et al, 2012;Duch-Ceballos et al, 2020;Rodrigues, 2016;Willis & Cashwell, 2017). Finally, individuals with higher levels of DoS have been found to have parents who were more responsive and less critical and absent, have a healthier perception of family functioning and greater adjustment and satisfaction with their partners (e.g., Dolz-del-Castellar & Oliver, 2021;Freeman & Almond, 2009;Jankowski & Hooper, 2012;Kim et al, 2015;Lampis et al, 2019;Rodríguez-González et al, 2020;Skowron, 2000).…”