Correlates of Identity Configurations: Three Studies with Adolescent and Emerging Adult Cohorts

Abstract

Adolescence and emerging adulthood are two core developmental periods in which individuals can develop a meaningful identity across domains. However, there is a lack of studies exploring correlates of different identity configurations. The purpose of this article was to fill this gap in examining correlates of configurations characterized by identity stability or instability in both ideological and relational domains or identity stability in one domain and instability in the other domain. Three studies were presented. In the first study, we investigated links between identity configurations and internalizing problem behaviors in early and middle adolescents (N=1,891; M (age) =14; 55% female); in the second study, we focused on associations between identity configurations and identity functions in late adolescents and early emerging adults (N=1,085; M (age) =19; 63% female); in the third study, we investigated relationships between identity configurations, sense of coherence, and basic psychological need satisfaction in emerging adults (N=489; M (age) =21; 71% female). Overall, findings highlighted that participants experiencing a condition of identity stability in both domains reported a better profile than their peers displaying a condition of instability in both realms. Further, individuals with identity stability only in one domain reported intermediate scores and the effect provided by each domain varied according to the correlate examined and the age group taken into account. Implications of these findings are discussed.

Making Sense of Loss and Belongingness: Korean Transracial Adoptees' Journey from Europe to Korea

“…As described by the participants in their narratives about returning to their birth country, a firm sense of self may be challenged throughout the lives of adoptees (Crocetti, Rubini, & Meeus, 2007;Crocetti et al, 2008;Crocetti, Scrignaro, Sica, & Margin, 2011). Growing up in a European country and having a Korean birth heritage made the participants feel as though a part of themselves was missing.…”

Validitas Utrecht-Management Of Identity Commitments Scale (U-MICS) Versi Indonesia: Struktur Faktor, Invariansi Pengukuran Gender, dan Usia

“…Komitmen mengarah pada proses menentukan pilihan yang dibuat oleh individu terkait dengan berbagai domain identitas yang disertai dengan rasa percaya diri terhadap pilihannya (Crocetti, Fermani, Pojaghi, & Meeus, 2011;Crocetti, Jahromi, & Meeus, 2012;Crocetti, Rubini, & Meeus, 2008). Komitmen dapat dianggap sebagai indikator pembentukan identitas yang berhasil (Crocetti, Klimstra, Hale, Koot, & Meeus, 2013;Crocetti, Scrignaro, Sica, & Magrin, 2012;Crocetti, Sica, Schwartz, Serafini, & Meeus, 2013).…”

Relations with parents and identity statuses in the relational domain in emerging adults

“…However, the lives of young people have changed radically in industrialized countries in past decades and influence the identity development (Arnett, 2007). The most important changes are linked to the transition into adult roles, such as transition to living independently, stable full-time work, marriage, and parenthood (Crocetti, Scrignaro, Sica, & Magrin, 2012). Emerging adulthood is a new conception of development for the period from late teens to the twenties and is defined as the period of trying out various possibilities before making final adult commitments, which can be exalting as well as distressing or confusing (Arnett, 2007).…”

“…More specifically, emerging adults should make decisions regarding their partner choices (Crocetti et al, 2012;Rostowski, 2005). It has been observed that the lack of a stable romantic relationship is becoming a frequent problem in intimate relationships.…”