The relation between identity status and romantic attachment style in middle and late adolescence

This study examined the linkages between identity formation and romantic attachment in an ethnically diverse sample of high school (n=189) and college students (n=324). Individuals in the foreclosed identity status group had significantly lower relationship avoidance scores than the diffused identity status group, and the foreclosed group had significantly lower relationship anxiety scores than both the achieved identity and moratorium groups. Identity status and romantic attachment style were significantly related among the college sample, but not among the high school sample. Some ethnic differences in attachment style were noted. Developmental implications are discussed.     

Ego identity: Developmental differences and experimental substance use among adolescents

A total of 12,988 adolescents completed a questionnaire which assessed experience with cigarettes, inhalants, alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, and level of ego identity (EOM-EIS). Discriminant analyses of substance use, across the achievement, moratorium, foreclosure, and diffusion identity statuses, yielded significant functions for each grade comparison (7th to 12th). Frequencies of experience for diffused respondents were consistently higher than estimates for the achieved and moratorium respondents; and, foreclosed adolescents reported the lowest frequency of experience. Diffused adolescents were about twice as likely to have tried cigarettes and alcohol, three times as likely to have tried marijuana, four times as likely to have tried inhalants, and five times as likely to have used cocaine than their foreclosed peers. The achieved, moratorium, and unclassified respondents reported frequencies of experience that fell between the two extreme groups. Implications for identifying adolescents "at risk", and tailoring prevention/intervention efforts to address developmental differences are addressed.     

A multi-dimensional measure of vocational identity status

Establishing a worker identity is among the most central aspects of the transition from adolescence to adulthood. Despite its importance, few measures with acceptable psychometric and conceptual characteristics exist to assess vocational identity statuses. This study reports the development and evaluation of the Vocational Identity Status Assessment (VISA), which is derived from established conceptual models and includes career exploration, commitment, and reconsideration dimensions. Results show that the VISA exhibited metric invariance across a high school and university sample. Cluster analyses demonstrated that the VISA consistently resolved six identity statuses across the two samples, supporting the previously established achieved, moratorium, foreclosed, and diffused statuses along with two additional statuses termed searching moratorium and undifferentiated. The identity statuses predicted differences in participants’ work valences and well-being with the achieved and diffused statuses respectively exhibiting the most and least favorable characteristics. Implications, limitations, and suggestions for future research based upon these findings are offered.     

Construct validity of two identity status measures: the EIPQ and the EOM-EIS-II

The present study was designed to examine construct validity of two identity status measures, the Ego Identity Process Questionnaire (EIPQ; J. Adolescence 18 (1995) 179) and the Extended Objective Measure of Ego Identity Status II (EOM-EIS-II; J. Adolescent Res. 1 (1986) 183). Construct validity was operationalized in terms of how identity status classifications generated by the EIPQ and EOM-EIS related to a measure of psychological agency, the Multi-Measure Agentic Personality Scale (MAPS; J. Adolescence 20 (1997) 421). Results indicated that, for the most part, the agentic personality scales differentiated the EIPQ diffused and moratorium statuses from the foreclosed and achieved statuses, whereas the agentic personality scales differentiated the EOM-EIS-II achieved status from the other three statuses. The EIPQ is recommended as the preferred instrument for making contrasts between or among identity statuses, whereas the EOM-EIS-II is recommended when the objective is to consider continuous measures of the identity statuses.     

Family correlates of female adolescents' ego-identity development

Past research has suggested that parents may contribute to the positive development of their daughter's identity formation. Theoretical notions from both social learning and symbolic interaction indicate that parents can either facilitate or hinder positive growth. Therefore, to test the predictions that (a) more mature (moratorium and achieved) identity status parents would have daughters with more mature identities, and (b) that both positive and negative parenting styles can be detected to differentiate between less (diffused and foreclosed) and more mature identity status youths, 45 families (145 subjects) were assessed on parent-child relations and identity status formation. In contrast to much past research, parent-child relations were assessed from both the adolescents' and the parents' perspectives. The findings indicate that parental identity status formation may have an effect on the adolescent's identity formation and that parent-child relations differentiate between less and more mature female adolescent identities.     

Ethnic differences in adolescents'' identity status and associated behavior problems

The relationships between ethnicity and identity status and between identity status and behavior problems, social competence, and self-esteem were examined among 330 White, Black, Puerto Rican and Filipino students in an integrated high school. Identity status (i.e., achieved, moratorium, foreclosed, or diffuse) was defined on the basis of a 24-item self-report inventory on which students rated their explorations of options and/or commitments to choices in their occupational, political, and religious domains. Ethnic status was also assessed in an 8-item questionnaire which assessed exploration and commitment to one's ethnic role. White students in the upper grades reported significantly higher moratorium scale scores and perceived themselves as more likely to have explored and be committed to their ethnic role than minority youth. There were no significant ethnic differences in the relationships of identity status to behavior problems, social competence or self-esteem. Adolescent boys were significantly more likely to be in moratorium regarding their ethnic role than girls. Grade and sex differences in identity status were consistent with those predicted by developmental researchers. Across all ethnic groups, ratings of moratorium status were associated with significantly more behavior problems, less social competence, and lower self-esteem.     

Vocational identity and psychological adjustment: A study in French adolescents and emerging adults

The aim of the present research was to study vocational identity in French adolescent and emerging adult students by using a French adaptation of the Vocational Identity Status Assessment (VISA), and to analyze the links between vocational identity formation and negative and positive psychological adjustment. Participants were 1077 French students who completed self-report scales about vocational identity, depression and satisfaction with life. The French version of the VISA showed good psychometric properties and six identity statuses were derived by means of cluster analysis: achievement, foreclosure, moratorium, searching moratorium, diffused diffusion and carefree diffusion. The main findings show that diffused diffusion and moratorium represent the dark sides of identity because of their negative psychological adjustment, and that the two processes of reconsideration of commitment were differently associated with psychological adjustment. These findings demonstrate that clinical interventions should be adapted to the individual's identity profile.     

The relationship of gender,gender identity,and coping strategies in late adolescents

The relationships among gender, gender identity, and coping in late adolescents were examined. One hundred sixty-nine late adolescents completed measures assessing their masculinity and femininity, as well as their use of coping strategies. Females endorsed greater use of emotion-focused coping strategies than males. Late adolescents who were high in masculinity endorsed higher levels of problem-focused coping strategies than those who were low in masculinity. In contrast, late adolescents who were high in femininity endorsed higher levels of emotion-focused coping strategies than those who were low in femininity. Neither the gender nor the masculinity and femininity of late adolescents were predictive of the use of avoidant coping strategies. Overall, gender identity made an important and independent contribution to the endorsement of coping strategy use. These results emphasize the importance of assessing both gender and gender identity with regard to coping in late adolescents.     

Gender role orientation and fearfulness in children with anxiety disorders

Research on gender differences in children's fears has generally shown that girls are more fearful than boys. A common hypothesis offered for this finding is that gender role orientations or expectations may be operating. However, this hypothesis has not been directly investigated in child samples. The present study examined the relation between a self-report measure of gender role orientation (i.e., masculinity/femininity) and the intensity of self-reported fears in a clinic sample of children (N = 66; ages 6-11; 41 boys and 25 girls) with anxiety disorders. Results revealed that masculinity was negatively related to overall levels of fearfulness as well as specific fears of failure and criticism, medical fears, and fears of the unknown. In contrast, no relation was found between femininity and fearfulness. These findings suggest that gender role orientation, especially masculinity, may play a role in the development and/or maintenance of fearfulness in children.     

Ego-identity differences among Anglo-American and Mexican-American adolescents

This study investigated potential differences in Ideological/Occupational and Interpersonal ego-identity among Anglo-American and Mexican-American adolescents. Subjects were 841 9th-12th graders attending high school in a southwestern state. All students were administered the Extended Objective Measure of Ego Identity Status to determine their level of identity diffusion, foreclosure, moratorium, and identity achievement. Multivariate analyses of co-variance with discriminant analysis were conducted separately for the two types of identity. Mothers' and fathers' education were included as covariates. Results indicated that Mexican-American youth are more foreclosed than Anglo-American youth in Ideological/Occupational identity, and may therefore be more inclined to adopt their parents' commitments to religious and political beliefs, occupational preferences, and philosophical lifestyles. Results also indicated that Mexican-American youth differ from Anglo-American youth in Interpersonal Identity as a function of grade. Discussion focused on interpretation of these results from both cultural and minority status perspectives.     

Transgression and Gender

Human activity is determined to a great extent by not only biological sex but also gender. The aim of the study was to examine relationships between transgression and types of gender. A population of 558 individuals (399 women and 159 men) aged 19–25 (mean age: 22.6) were studied. The age of the women ranged from 19 to 24 (mean age: 22.4) and of the men—from 19 to 25 (mean age: 22.8). In order to examine the intensity of transgression, the Polish version of the chronic self-destructiveness scale was applied. The gender was studied by means of the Polish version of the Bem sex role inventory. Androgynous women achieved the highest and feminine men—the lowest scores on the transgression scale. In women, the masculinity scale positively correlated with the transgression scale, whereas the femininity scale did not significantly correlate with transgression, although the coefficient was negative. No statistically significant correlations were found in men (although the coefficients were positive). Biological sex and gender were qualitative variables that differentiated the intensity of transgression. Equilibrium between the psychological dimension of femininity and the psychological dimension of masculinity was vital for transgressive tendencies, particularly in women. Androgynous women showed rather the adaptive aspect of transgression.     

Identity and civic engagement in adolescence

The purpose of this study was to examine the links between identity (statuses and processes) and adolescent civic engagement (volunteer and political participation). Participants were 392 Italian high school students (42% males) aged 14-20 years (M(age) = 16.23 years; SD(age) = 1.53) who completed a self-report questionnaire. First, using a person-centered approach, we found that achieved adolescents were more involved in volunteer activities, reported higher civic efficacy, and stronger aspirations to contribute to their communities than their diffused counterparts. Second, by means of a variable-centered approach, we demonstrated that the link between identity processes (i.e., commitment and in-depth exploration) and past and future volunteer and political participation was mediated by social responsibility. Implications of the findings for current understanding of the link between adolescent identity formation and civic engagement are discussed and suggestions for future research are outlined.     

Ethnic identity development and ethnic discrimination: Examining longitudinal associations with adjustment for Mexican-origin adolescent mothers

Few studies examine normative developmental processes among teenage mothers. Framed from a risk and resilience perspective, this prospective study examined the potential for ethnic identity status (e.g., diffuse, achieved), a normative developmental task during adolescence, to buffer the detrimental effects of discrimination on later adjustment and self-esteem in a sample of 204 Mexican-origin adolescent mothers. Ethnic discrimination was associated with increases in depressive symptoms and decreases in self-esteem over time, regardless of ethnic identity status. However, ethnic discrimination was only associated with increases in engagement in risky behavior among diffuse adolescents, suggesting that achieved or foreclosed identities buffered the risk of ethnic discrimination on later risky behavior. Findings suggest that ethnic identity resolution (i.e., the component shared by those in foreclosed and achieved statuses) may be a key cultural factor to include in prevention and intervention efforts aimed to reduce the negative effects of ethnic discrimination on later externalizing problems.     

Looking on the bright side: the role of identity status and gender on positive orientations during emerging adulthood

Emerging adulthood has been characterized as an age of possibilities that involves heightened identity exploration and risk-taking. Although some scholars have investigated the relation between identity status and risk behaviors in emerging adulthood, less attention has been paid to the relation between identity status and prosocial orientations. Thus, the current study examined how emerging adults' engagement in positive behaviors (i.e., prosocial tendencies, internalization of values, religiosity) varied as a function of identity status and gender. Results indicated that emerging adults who were in identity diffusion reported fewer prosocial tendencies, lower scores on internalization of values and lower religiosity, but emerging adults who were experiencing moratorium reported prosocial tendencies and levels of religiosity as frequently as emerging adults who had reached identity achievement. Also, young women reported higher levels of emotional and altruistic prosocial tendencies, higher levels of internalization of values, and higher levels of religiosity than did young men. The discussion focuses on emerging adulthood as a period of possibilities and exploration for not only risk behaviors, but prosocial behaviors as well.     

Ego structuralization in late adolescence as seen through early memories and ego identity status

This study was undertaken to examine the relationship between ego identity status and early memory themes in an effort to detect possible phases in the process of ego structuralization during late adolescence. Subjects were 73 late adolescents (39 women and 34 men) who had been first year university students two years previously. Each subject was given Marcia's (1966) Identity Status Interview and an Early Memories Interview designed to elicit world view orientation (Gushurst, 1971). Identity achievements most frequently expressed themes of moving contentedly alone or alongside significant others, while themes of moving away from the familiar were most common among moratoriums. Seeking security and support from significant others or familiar settings were most prevalent themes for foreclosures, while desire for relatedness was the most frequently occurring theme for diffusions. Statuses did not differ in frequency of themes expressing conflict. Consistent with observations of Mahler et al., (1975) on subphases of infant differentiation, results of this study point to similar processes as adolescents relinquish, rather than incorporate, parental introjects.     

Development and validation of the occupational identity scale

Ego-identity research utilizing Marcia's (1966) identity statuses has been prolific during the past 15 years. The four types of statuses--achievement, moratorium, foreclosure, diffusion--have become part of the ego-identity development theory. The development of a research tool to study further one of the dimensions of ego-identity development (occupational dimension) was perceived as a need. Therefore, items were created utilizing the criteria established by previous research and content validated by a group of experts. These statements were validated by 417 students from six high schools and colleges. Responses were analyzed and measures of construct and concurrent validity were obtained. Also indexes of internal consistency and item discrimination were estimated. Through factor analysis techniques, four factors were identified for the occupational identity statuses. They accounted for 49 per cent of the total variance. Reliability coefficients ranged between 0.70 and 0.87. Concurrent validity coefficients ranged between 0.38 and 0.79, when correlated with a similar instrument. After deletion of those items that did not contribute significantly to the validity of the instrument, a 28-item Occupational Identity Scale was established.     

The psychosocial inventory of ego strengths: examination of theory and psychometric properties

The psychosocial inventory of ego strengths (PIES) was devised as a measure of Erikson's eight ego strengths. The present investigation extended previous research through examination of the validity and reliability of the PIES among 502 high school students. The study also included an appraisal of Erikson's ego strengths as indices of psychosocial well-being. Reliability of the subscales of the PIES was shown through acceptable Cronbach's alphas. As expected, higher scores on ego strengths were positively correlated with psychosocial indictors of identity achievement, self-esteem, locus of control, empathic concern, perspective-taking, and positive forms of coping. Lower scores on ego strengths were related to less desirable psychosocial constructs. Biological sex and age differences also are reported. Based on the findings, the study offers validation of psychosocial theory. As well, the PIES is recommended for use among high school students.     

Non-suicidal self-injury in high school students: Associations with identity processes and statuses

Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) refers to the direct, deliberate destruction of one's body tissue without suicidal intent. Research has highlighted the importance of identity synthesis versus confusion for NSSI. However, the association with identity processes and statuses remains unknown. A total of 568 adolescents reported on NSSI, identity, anxiety, and depression. Although identity processes of identification with commitment (negatively) and ruminative exploration (positively) were related to NSSI variables, these relationships were no longer significant when controlling for anxiety and depression. When examining identity statuses (using cluster analysis), individuals who had engaged in NSSI in the past (but not currently) were more likely to be in the moratorium cluster and less likely to be in the achievement cluster. Individuals who were currently engaging in NSSI were more likely to be in the troubled diffusion cluster. Clinicians should be attentive to the complex interplay between identity and NSSI when treating adolescents.     

Oxytocin administration leads to a preference for masculinized male faces

Preferences for sexually dimorphic traits in men's faces are consistent with a trade-off between cues to indirect (genetic) and direct (prosociality) benefits, associated perceptually with relative masculinity and femininity respectively. As the neuropeptide oxytocin (OT) has been shown to promote social perception, we hypothesized that temporary OT elevation would result in a preference for masculinity in men's faces, by reducing the apparent social costs of masculine traits. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 96 participants received either 24 IU OT or placebo. They then completed a computer task in which they used the mouse to alter the shape of displayed men's and women's faces, making them look more or less masculine. Participants were instructed to make each face as attractive as possible. OT administration led to a trend for a relative preference for masculinity in men's faces but did not affect preferences for femininity in women's faces, and this effect occurred irrespective of the participant's sex. We tentatively speculate that OT may 'mask' negative personality attributions normally associated with masculine male faces. These results may be pointing to the role of personality attribution in attractiveness judgements, and the role of OT in social perception.     

Adolescent psychological well-being by identity style

High school-age adolescents (N=262) in two samples completed a measure of identity style, along with measures of self-esteem, hopelessness, delinquent attitudes, educational expectations, and optimism/efficacy. Analysis of variance was used to evaluate the relationship between identity style and the other psychosocial variables. Participants classified as having a diffuse/avoidant orientation had lower self-esteem and higher delinquent attitude scores than those with either an information or normative orientation. At the same time, the diffuse-avoidant style was associated with higher hopelessness and lower optimism/efficacy scores than the normative and information styles. The normative and information styles did not differ significantly in terms of the dependent variables. Results also indicated that males were more likely to be diffused and females more likely to be information-oriented.