Identity Formation in Early and Middle Adolescents From Various Ethnic Groups: From Three Dimensions to Five Statuses

We used three identity processes (i.e., commitment, in-depth exploration, and reconsideration of commitment) from a recently developed model of identity formation to derive empirically identity statuses in a sample of 1952 early and middle adolescents. By means of cluster analysis, we identified five statuses: achievement, foreclosure, moratorium, searching moratorium, and diffusion. Specifically, we found an intra-status differentiation within moratorium, unraveling the positive and negative facets of this status documented in prior literature. The five clusters could be meaningfully distinguished on a number of variables, such as personality features, psychosocial problems, and parental relationships. These findings indicated that a valid distinction in identity statuses could be made in early and middle adolescence. Finally, age and ethnic background strongly affected the distribution of the participants among the five identity statuses. Implications and suggestions for future research are discussed.

Wim MeeusEmail:

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Elisabetta Crocetti   is a doctoral student of the University of Macerata. Crocetti’s major research interests include identity development and social relationships in adolescence and emerging adulthood. Monica Rubini   is Associate Professor of Social Psychology and head of the Laboratory for the Study of Social Prejudice at the University of Bologna. She received her Ph.D. in Social Psychology from the University of Bologna. Her major research interests include intergroup relations and language, personal and social identity development. Koen Luyckx   is a postdoctoral researcher at the Fund for Scientific Research (FWO) in Flanders. He received his Ph.D. in Psychology from the K.U. of Leuven. His major research interests include longitudinal research, identity development and processes, parenting, and adolescent well-being. Wim Meeus   is Professor of Adolescent Development and chair of the Research Centre Adolescent Development of Utrecht University. He received his Ph.D. in Social Psychology from the Utrecht University. He is a specialist in longitudinal research. His major research interests include identity and personality development, personal relationships and psychosocial problems in adolescence.