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.