Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 7, 2026
07:40
Validation of a Psychosocial Intervention on Body Image in Older People: An Experimental Design
Published on: May 31, 2021
3.8K
Change Within Stability: A Mixed-Methods Study of Identity Development in Established Adulthood
Hanna Larsson1, Johanna Carlsson1, Py Liv Eriksson1
1Department of Psychology, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Journal of Personality
|January 4, 2026
Summary
Adult identity development shows a trend toward maturity, with stable identity maintained through self-reflection, narrative integration, and intergenerational connection. This longitudinal study reveals ongoing identity processes even in adulthood.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Developmental Psychology
- Adult Development
Background:
- Longitudinal studies on adult identity development are limited.
- Understanding identity maintenance and revision processes in adulthood is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine longitudinal patterns of identity status development from emerging to established adulthood.
- To investigate processes of continued identity development in stable adults.
Main Methods:
- Quantitative analysis of identity status across four age points (25, 29, 33, 39) in 105 participants.
- Qualitative analysis of identity development processes in a subset of stable participants (ages 33-39).
Main Results:
- Group-level identity status shifts towards achievement by age 39.
- A significant portion of participants maintained stable identity statuses throughout the study.
- Three key processes for continued identity development were identified: anchoring commitments, story integration, and intergenerational connection.
Conclusions:
- Identity status evolves toward maturity during adulthood.
- Individuals with stable identities engage in ongoing developmental processes.
Related Concept Videos
01:27Erikson's Theory on Socioemotional Development during Adulthood
744
Erik Erikson's theory of psychosocial development outlines a series of stages through which individuals progress across the lifespan. Each stage involves a psychosocial conflict that significantly influences personal growth and well-being. Three key stages — intimacy versus isolation, generativity versus stagnation, and integrity versus despair — highlight the developmental challenges faced in adulthood.
Intimacy Versus Isolation in Early Adulthood
Individuals in early...
Intimacy Versus Isolation in Early Adulthood
Individuals in early...
744
01:27Emerging Adulthood
564
Jeffrey Arnett's concept of emerging adulthood offers a framework to understand the unique developmental stage between adolescence and full-fledged adulthood, generally from ages 18 to 25. This period is marked by extensive exploration and shifts in identity, relationships, and career choices, a process known in psychology as role experimentation. Emerging adulthood reflects the evolving cultural expectations surrounding adulthood and the dynamic process of personal transformation during...
564
01:26Marcia's Theory of Identity Status
1.4K
James Marcia's identity status model provides a framework for understanding how adolescents navigate identity formation through varying degrees of exploration and commitment. Marcia's model builds on Erik Erikson's theories of psychosocial development, focusing specifically on how adolescents reconcile individual aspirations with societal expectations. His model describes identity formation as a dynamic process where adolescents move between different states depending on their level...
1.4K
01:17Erikson's Theory on Socioemotional Development during Adolescence
999
Erik Erikson's fifth stage of psychosocial development, "identity versus role confusion," is crucial during adolescence (ages 12 to 18). In this stage, adolescents face the developmental task of forging a distinct personal identity, a process influenced by social, psychological, and biological changes typical of this period. Adolescents naturally explore different roles, behaviors, and ideologies as they navigate complex questions of self-concept, asking, "Who am I?" and "What is my place in...
999
01:27Ethnic Identity within a Larger Culture
208
Adolescents from ethnic minority backgrounds face a multifaceted journey in forming their identities, shaped by the intersections of cultural expectations and personal exploration. For these adolescents, identity formation involves not only typical developmental challenges but also navigating the perceptions and attitudes of the majority culture. As they grow, adolescents in ethnic minority groups often become increasingly aware of stereotypes, social biases, and discrimination, all of which...
208
01:25Personal Identity
277
Personal identity is the deeply felt sense of self that individuals cultivate over time, intricately woven from intrinsic qualities they consider essential to their existence—qualities such as morality, intelligence, and friendliness. These attributes serve as vital internal benchmarks, guiding individuals in evaluating whether their actions resonate with their true selves.When personal identity takes center stage in one's life, individuals often emphasize their distinctiveness,...
277