Ethnicity as a mediating variable of early adolescent identity development

The variables of race/ethnicity, sex and grade were examined as potential mediating factors of early adolescent identity development. The EOM-EIS was administered to 367 middle-school students in an urban southwestern setting. Results provided evidence that the EOM-EIS is an appropriate instrument for use with this age sample. Additionally, females and older students were found to be more developmentally sophisticated than other groups. Finally, ethnic minorities were found to be significantly more foreclosed than their non-minority counterparts. As the school was a mandatory desegregation site, implications of school desegregation were discussed.