TY - JOUR
T1 - The quest for identity in adolescence
T2 - Heterogeneity in daily identity formation and psychosocial adjustment across 5 years
AU - Becht, Andrik I.
AU - Nelemans, Stefanie A.
AU - Branje, Susan J. T.
AU - Vollebergh, Wilma A. M.
AU - Koot, Hans M.
AU - Denissen, Jaap J A
AU - Meeus, Wim H J
PY - 2016/12/1
Y1 - 2016/12/1
N2 - Identity formation is one of the key developmental tasks in adolescence. According to Erikson (1968) experiencing identity uncertainty is normative in adolescence. However, empirical studies investigating identity uncertainty on a daily basis are lacking. Hence, studying individual differences in daily certainty (i.e., identity commitment levels) and uncertainty (i.e., identity commitment fluctuations and identity reconsideration) in the identity formation process may advance our knowledge about the extent to which adolescents' identity uncertainty is part of normative identity development. Therefore, this longitudinal study examined heterogeneity in certainty and uncertainty dynamics of adolescents' daily identity formation using a longitudinal microlevel approach. Dutch adolescents (N = 494; Mage = 13.03 years at T1; 56.7% boys) reported on 2 key dimensions of identity formation (i.e., commitment and reconsideration) in both the educational and interpersonal domain on a daily basis for 3 weeks within 1 year, across 5 successive years. Multivariate latent class growth analyses suggested both in the educational and interpersonal identity domain a class of adolescents displaying a "crisis-like" identity formation process, and an "identity synthesis" class. Classes revealed differential development of (global and school) anxiety, aggression, and best friend support. Taken together, the present study confirmed Erikson's notion that experiencing daily identity uncertainty is common during adolescence. However, a substantial amount of adolescents also showed a process toward identity maturation already during adolescence.
AB - Identity formation is one of the key developmental tasks in adolescence. According to Erikson (1968) experiencing identity uncertainty is normative in adolescence. However, empirical studies investigating identity uncertainty on a daily basis are lacking. Hence, studying individual differences in daily certainty (i.e., identity commitment levels) and uncertainty (i.e., identity commitment fluctuations and identity reconsideration) in the identity formation process may advance our knowledge about the extent to which adolescents' identity uncertainty is part of normative identity development. Therefore, this longitudinal study examined heterogeneity in certainty and uncertainty dynamics of adolescents' daily identity formation using a longitudinal microlevel approach. Dutch adolescents (N = 494; Mage = 13.03 years at T1; 56.7% boys) reported on 2 key dimensions of identity formation (i.e., commitment and reconsideration) in both the educational and interpersonal domain on a daily basis for 3 weeks within 1 year, across 5 successive years. Multivariate latent class growth analyses suggested both in the educational and interpersonal identity domain a class of adolescents displaying a "crisis-like" identity formation process, and an "identity synthesis" class. Classes revealed differential development of (global and school) anxiety, aggression, and best friend support. Taken together, the present study confirmed Erikson's notion that experiencing daily identity uncertainty is common during adolescence. However, a substantial amount of adolescents also showed a process toward identity maturation already during adolescence.
KW - Adolescence
KW - Certainty/uncertainty dynamics
KW - Daily diary method
KW - Identity development
KW - Psychosocial adjustment
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85000717955&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85000717955&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1037/dev0000245
DO - 10.1037/dev0000245
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85000717955
SN - 0012-1649
VL - 52
SP - 2010
EP - 2021
JO - Developmental Psychology
JF - Developmental Psychology
IS - 12
ER -