Identity Formation in Adulthood: A Longitudinal Study from Age 27 to 50

Abstract

Longitudinal patterns of identity formation were analyzed in a representative cohort group of Finnish men and women born in 1959 across ages 27, 36, 42, and 50. The data were drawn from the Jyväskylä Longitudinal Study of Personality. Identity status (diffused, moratorium, foreclosed, achieved) from all four ages was available for 172 participants (54% females). Marcia’s Identity Status Interview used in this research included five domains: religious beliefs, political identity, occupational career, intimate relationships, and lifestyle. The findings indicated great variability in identity status across domains at each age level, and the identity trajectories fluctuated from age 27 to 50. The developmental trend from age 27 to 50 was moderately progressive (toward achievement) for the five domains and for overall identity, with the exception of a slightly regressive trend in male religious identity. Remaining stable in the same status category across the four measurements was rare and emerged only for diffusion in the ideological domains. Women generally outnumbered men in identity achievement at earlier ages, but the gender differences diminished in most domains at age 50, except in religious identity. In women overall diffusion decreased over time, but in men it remained at about 20% at ages 42 and 50.

“It’s a New Chapter Now”: Establishing Commitments in the Romantic Domain during Young Adulthood

“…Identity foreclosure has traditionally been considered a starting point for identity development, most common among adolescents adopting the commitments of their parents in an unreflective manner (Marcia et al, 1993). However, in contrast to theoretical assumptions, studies have shown that the foreclosed identity status is also common beyond adolescence (Carlsson, Wängqvist, & Frisén, 2015;Fadjukoff, Pulkkinen, & Kokko, 2016;Kroger, Martinussen, & Marcia, 2010). In previous research from the same project as this study, foreclosure was found to be the most common identity status in the romantic identity domain during the mid 20s to early 30s (Frisén & Wängqvist, 2011;Gyberg & Frisén, 2017;Wängqvist, Carlsson, van der Lee, & Frisén, 2016).…”

“…Yet, previous research suggests that individuals also transition from identity diffusion to foreclosure (i.e. make commitments without prior exploration) after adolescence, and that some remain in foreclosure during their adult years (Carlsson et al, 2015;Fadjukoff et al, 2016;Kroger et al, 2010). However, there is a lack of knowledge about what the process of establishing commitments without exploration involves in young adulthood.…”

Parental Identity and Its Relation to Parenting and Psychological Functioning in Middle Age

“…Although 42% of women and 36% of men remained stable in their parental identity over time, the findings highlight great variation and fluctuation in individual identity patterns, including regressive patterns, such as achievement-achievement-foreclosure or foreclosure-achievement-foreclosure. Corresponding foreclosure-achievement shifting cycles have earlier been found in other identity domains (e.g., Fadjukoff, Pulkkinen, & Kokko, 2016;Pulkkinen & Kokko, 2000;Valde, 1996), indicating that shifting awareness of one's own agency in the commitment process is not uncommon and that identity is constantly reformulated with age (e.g., Marcia, 2002).…”

Identity in Adulthood—Stable or Flexible

“…This trend can be explained by the results that nevertheless at the age of 50 the most common status is achieved identity, the moratorium reappears both in ideological and interpersonal domains, evidencing the new explorations. Furthermore, analyzing the several age points of the study, it is outlined that no one of the subjects has remained in the same status, in no one of the life domains (Fadjukoff, Pulkkinen, & Kokko, 2016).…”