Identity dynamics in adolescence: Processes, antecedents, and consequences

The aim of this study was to develop a model of identity formation comprising three structural dimensions: commitment, in-depth exploration and reconsideration of commitment. A new tool, the Utrecht-Management of Identity Commitments Scale, was designed to assess these processes. Early and middle adolescents (N=1952) participated in this study. Confirmatory factor analyses revealed that the three-factor model provided a better fit than alternative one- and two-factor models. The model applied not only to the whole adolescent sample, but also to male and female subsamples and to early and middle adolescent age groups. Additionally, we established interethnic equivalence of the model, in that it also fit well for ethnic minority adolescents. In accordance with hypotheses, regression analyses showed that commitment, in-depth exploration and reconsideration of commitment were significantly related to measures of self and personality, psychosocial problems and parent-adolescent relations. Implications and suggestions for future research are discussed.

This study examined identity development in a 5-wave study of 923 early-to-middle and 390 middle-to-late adolescents thereby covering the ages of 12-20. Systematic evidence for identity progression was found: The number of diffusions, moratoriums, and searching moratoriums (a newly obtained status) decreased, whereas the representation of the high-commitment statuses (2 variants of a [fore]closed identity: "early closure" and "closure," and achievement) increased. We also found support for the individual difference perspective: 63% of the adolescents remained in the same identity status across the 5 waves. Identity progression was characterized by 7 transitions: diffusion→moratorium, diffusion→early closure, moratorium→closure, moratorium→achievement, searching moratorium→closure, searching moratorium→achievement, and early closure→achievement. © 2010 The Authors. Child Development © 2010 Society for Research in Child Development, Inc.