Identity development, parental and peer support in adolescence: results of a national Dutch survey

The aims of this study were to examine the development and structure of identity throughout adolescence, and the influence of parents and peers on identity development. A representative sample of Dutch adolescents, aged 12 to 14, completed the Utrecht-Groningen Identity Development Scale (U-GIDS). This instrument encompasses separate scales for commitment in exploration for relational, school, and occupational identity. The results show that relational identity becomes consistently stronger as adolescents grow older. Less consistent developmental trends were found for school identity, and no developmental trends for occupational identity. A different identity structure was found in different groups of adolescents. For girls the relational identity is much more important than school or occupational identity. The same difference was found in adolescents aged 21 to 24 vs. their younger peers. Identity development is mostly influenced by peers, with parents having only an additive positive influence.