Adolescent Psychological Well-Being by Identity Style

• NCJ Number: 221227
• Journal: Journal of Adolescence Volume: 30 Issue: 6 Dated: December 2007 Pages: 1021-1034
• Author(s): Tommy M. Phillips; Joe F. Pittman
• Date Published: December 2007
• Length: 14 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

The study evaluated the relationship between identity style and other indicators of well-being and future outlook.

Abstract

The findings report that the merit and utility of identity style construct have practical implications for intervening in the lives of youth potentially at risk for developmentally undesirable life outcomes associated with the adoption of a diffuse-avoidant orientation. By identifying adolescents’ primary identity styles early on, it may be possible to intervene and place them on a more positive trajectory. Individuals with a diffuse-avoidant orientation are characterized by decreased well-being and a less hopeful outlook toward the future, relative to individuals with either information or a normative orientation; the association between the diffuse/avoidant style and decreased well-being remained constant. Adolescents employing a diffuse-avoidant style differed significantly from those employing information or normative styles in terms of self-esteem, hopelessness, optimism/efficacy, educational expectations, and delinquent attitudes. Diffuse-avoidant participants were less optimistic, had lower self-esteem, expressed greater hopelessness, and had higher delinquent attitude scores than participants using either a normative or an information style. Diffuse-avoidant participants were more likely to endorse acts of delinquency. Females were more likely to use information oriented style, and less likely to rely on a diffuse-avoidant style relative to their male age-mates, perhaps attributable to the fact that girls begin maturing earlier than boys. Data were collected from questionnaires administered to 2 samples: 93 adolescents, 52 percent female and 48 percent male, predominantly White, ranging in age from 11 to 18 from the lower end of the family income spectrum living in eastern Kentucky; and 169 adolescents, 51 percent female and 49 percent male, 52 percent White and 48 percent Black, ranging in age from 12 to 20, from a variety of family income levels living in rural Alabama. Tables, references