Changing Economic Conditions and Identity Formation in Adulthood

Abstract

Identity formation in political and occupational domains was examined from young to middle adulthood based on an ongoing longitudinal study. In addition to the participants' identity status (diffused, moratorium, foreclosed, achieved), we assessed their perceived importance of politics, future orientation, and career stability four times in adulthood, at ages 27, 36, 42, and 50. The number of participants varied between analyses, from 168 to 291. Changes in the economic situation in Finland from 1986 to 2009 provided a context for the study. Data collections at ages 36 (in 1995) and 50 (in 2009) took place during economic recessions, and at age 42 (in 2001) during an economic boom. The results were discussed from both agegraded and history-graded perspectives. Developmental trends in political and occupational identity were reversed across age and changes in the economic situation. Political identity was at its lowest level and occupational identity was at its highest level at age 42 during the economic boom. Political identity progressed at a time of economic recession at age 50, whereas occupational identity regressed. In women, identity changes were associated with personal career stability. The perceived importance of politics increased concurrently with political identity achievement. During the recession when they were age 50, women tended to worry about future financial problems, while men perceived their future depending decreasingly on themselves and increasingly on the world situation. The results indicate that macro-level economical conditions may have psychological implications on people's conceptions of themselves that are worth considering in developmental studies.

Identity Status Change Within Personal Style Clusters: A Longitudinal Perspective From Early Adulthood to Midlife

“…Their contradictorily fluctuating rates of identity achievement and diffusion highlighted potential identity challenges in this group, and call for additional research. Fadjukoff et al (2010) demonstrated in an earlier study that occupational identity fluctuated according to macro-economic circumstances: it progressed to its highest level during economic boom (at age 42 of the participants), and later turned to regression during recession at age 50, accompanied with a weakened sense of agency specifically in men.…”

“…Fig.1); their identity achievement peaked up at the time of economic boom (at age 42, in 2001), whereas diffusion peaked up during economic recession (at age 50, in 2009; there was economic recession in Finland also in mid-1990s, cf. Fadjukoff, Kokko, & Pulkkinen, 2010).…”

Identity profiles and digital engagement among Finnish high school students

“…That is, in addition to progression between the statuses over time, great stability and some regression have also been observed. Further, although gender differences have been very small or nonexistent (e.g., Kroger, 1997;Schwartz et al, 2011), other contextual factors such as prior school success, parental SES and larger economic circumstances play a significant role in the development and distribution of identity statuses (Fadjukoff, 2007;Fadjukoff, Kokko, & Pulkkinen, 2010;Mannerström, Hautamäki, & Leikas, 2016). For instance, adolescents with highly educated parents are more likely to reach the achievement status.…”

Identity Development in Adulthood: Introduction

“…In addition to Erikson, some have spoken theoretically about what will likely spur ongoing identity developments over the course of adulthood years (Bosma & Kunnen, 2001;Kroger, 2003;Kunnen, 2006;Marcia, 2002). Empirically, internal issues such as readiness for change and internal conflict (Anthis & La Voie, 2006;Kroger, 2003;Kunnen, 2006) and external issues such as individual critical life events, historical forces, the move to a new context, and influence of a significant other (Anthis, 2002a(Anthis, , 2002bFadjukoff, Kokko, & Pulkkinen, 2010;Kroger & Green, 1996;Kunnen & Wassink, 2003;Luyckx, Goossens, & Soenens, 2006) have been associated with identity changes during late adolescent and adult life.…”