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Related Experiment Video

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Identity formation in adolescence: change or stability?

Theo A Klimstra1, William W Hale, Quinten A W Raaijmakers

  • 1Research Centre Adolescent Development, Utrecht University, P.O. Box 80.140, 3508 TC, Utrecht, The Netherlands. t.a.klimstra@uu.nl

Journal of Youth and Adolescence
|January 20, 2010
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Summary

Adolescent identity formation shows progressive changes in how teens handle commitments, not the commitments themselves. This longitudinal study tracks identity development from ages 12 to 20.

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Area of Science:

  • Developmental Psychology
  • Adolescent Psychology
  • Identity Formation Research

Background:

  • Identity formation is a critical developmental task during adolescence.
  • Understanding the stability and change in identity dimensions is crucial for developmental research.
  • Previous research has explored various facets of identity, but longitudinal data on its dimensions is still evolving.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To longitudinally examine changes and stability in identity formation from early to late adolescence (ages 12-20).
  • To assess mean-level change, rank-order stability, and profile similarity across key identity dimensions.
  • To investigate gender differences in identity development trajectories.

Main Methods:

  • A five-wave longitudinal study involving 923 early to middle adolescents and 390 middle to late adolescents.
  • Utilized adolescent self-report questionnaires to measure identity dimensions.
  • Assessed three dimensions: commitment, in-depth exploration, and reconsideration.

Main Results:

  • Identity formation progresses towards maturity, with decreased reconsideration and increased in-depth exploration.
  • Identity dimension profiles became more stable over time, while commitment levels remained constant.
  • Girls showed earlier identity maturity, but boys reached similar levels by late adolescence.
  • Rank-order stability for commitment, exploration, and reconsideration did not vary with age.

Conclusions:

  • Adolescent identity development is characterized by evolving approaches to managing commitments.
  • The process of identity formation involves shifts in exploration and reconsideration, leading to greater stability.
  • Gender convergence in identity maturity occurs by late adolescence, highlighting dynamic developmental pathways.