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

• NCJ Number: 239821
• Journal: Journal of Youth and Adolescence Volume: 41 Issue: 6 Dated: June 2012 Pages: 732-748
• Author(s): Elisabetta Crocetti; Marta Scrignaro; Luigia Simona Sica; Maria Elena Magrin
• Date Published: June 2012
• Length: 17 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

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.

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, the authors investigated links between identity configurations and internalizing problem behaviors in early and middle adolescents (N = 1,891; M age = 14; 55 percent female); in the second study, the authors focused on associations between identity configurations and identity functions in late adolescents and early emerging adults (N = 1,085; M age = 19; 63 percent female); in the third study, the authors investigated relationships between identity configurations, sense of coherence, and basic psychological need satisfaction in emerging adults (N = 489; M age = 21; 71 percent 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. Abstract published by arrangement with Springer.