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Identity status in university women: A methodological note
1C. M. Hincks Treatment Centre in Toronto, Ontario.
Journal of Youth and Adolescence
|January 11, 2014
Summary
Exploring career and belief alternatives benefits both male and female university students. This study suggests similar positive identity development outcomes for both sexes when considering different life paths.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Developmental Psychology
Background:
- Identity status research often shows males exploring alternatives have superior characteristics.
- Previous studies indicated females exploring alternatives did not exhibit similar positive traits.
- Potential methodological differences in sample age may explain sex discrepancies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the correlates of identity status in university students.
- To examine potential sex differences in the interpretation of identity exploration.
- To test the hypothesis that age-related sampling methods influence findings on identity status.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of existing studies on identity status and correlates.
- Comparison of findings across different age samples for males and females.
- Examination of occupational and ideological alternative exploration.
Main Results:
- Males exploring alternatives show superior characteristics compared to those who have not.
- Initial findings suggested females exploring alternatives did not mirror these male benefits.
- Evidence supports that exploring alternatives has similar positive implications for both sexes.
Conclusions:
- Differences in previous findings may stem from methodological variations, particularly sample age.
- Identity exploration is positively associated with beneficial characteristics for both male and female university students.
- The exploration of occupational and ideological alternatives is a universally positive aspect of identity development.
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