Change Within Stability: A Mixed-Methods Study of Identity Development in Established Adulthood

Longitudinal studies examining identity development in adulthood are scarce, and little is known about the processes through which a stable identity is maintained or revised. This study addresses these gaps by examining (a) longitudinal patterns of identity status development from emerging through established adulthood and (b) processes of continued identity development among individuals who are stable in committed identity statuses.

Quantitative analyses of identity status development across ages 25, 29, 33, and 39 (N = 105) revealed group-level changes, with more individuals in identity achievement and fewer in moratorium and identity diffusion at age 39 than at younger ages. However, the largest group of participants (35%, n = 37) were assigned the same committed identity status at all four time points. Longitudinal qualitative analysis of this subset from ages 33 and 39 resulted in a model with three processes of continued identity development: anchoring commitments in views of oneself, story integration, and connecting oneself to older and younger generations.

The findings show that there is identity status change toward maturity from emerging through established adulthood, and that processes of continued development take place for individuals considered stable in their identity.