Antecedents of the Male Adolescent Identity Crisis

Abstract

Erikson (1950) contends that the physical changes associated with puberty serve as a catalyst for adolescents to question childhood identifications and to consolidate these with current self-conceptions, personal ideologies, interpersonal values, and future aspirations. Erikson describes the adolescent identity crisis as the developmental period when identity development becomes salient. For males, pubertal changes have implications for sexual identity development and self-perceptions of masculinity, which are aspects of the identity exploration and integration process that occurs during adolescence. This study is an examination of the impact of age, grade, and physical development on male identity development. A purposive sample of 173 Anglo-American male participants in Grades 6 through 12 completed the Petersen Development Scale and The Extended Objective Measure of Ego Identity Status (EOM-EIS) in their homes. Statistical analyses revealed that physical development shared more variability (20% explained) with the identity measure than either age (8.3%) or grade (4.2%). Advanced physical development correlates with lower Foreclosure scores and higher Moratorium and Achievement scores. These findings are consistent with Erikson’s life span theory of psychosocial development.

Gender Variations in the Prevalence and Correlates of Depression and Anxiety Among Adolescents in South-Eastern Nigeria

“…Older adolescent females might be under stress from factors like expectations regarding traditional gender roles and the need for approval from members of the opposite sex. On the other hand, younger adolescent boys might be dealing with the challenges of pubertal changes, the development of their sexual identity, and how they see themselves as men (Jones et al, 2012). Reiss's (2013) systematic review of studies concerning socioeconomic inequalities and mental health problems in children and adolescents found that adolescents from low-income homes were two to three times more likely to have mental health disorders than those from high-income families, and low family socioeconomic status was strongly associated with a higher incidence of mental health challenges in adolescents regardless of gender.…”