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.
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.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-17
- DOI 10.1007/s10964-011-9702-2
- Authors
- Elisabetta Crocetti, Department of Psychology, University of Milano-Bicocca, P.O. Box Piazza dell’Ateneo Nuovo, 1, 20146 Milan, Italy
- Marta Scrignaro, Department of Psychology, University of Milano-Bicocca, P.O. Box Piazza dell’Ateneo Nuovo, 1, 20146 Milan, Italy
- Luigia Simona Sica, Department of Psychology, University of Turin, P.O. Box Via Verdi 10, 10124 Turin, Italy
- Maria Elena Magrin, Department of Psychology, University of Milano-Bicocca, P.O. Box Piazza dell’Ateneo Nuovo, 1, 20146 Milan, Italy
- Journal Journal of Youth and Adolescence
- Online ISSN 1573-6601
- Print ISSN 0047-2891