Sexual identity development in the context of compulsory heterosexuality

This study analyzed the implications of sexual identity development for global, political, religious, and occupational identity development in 358 college students. Participants completed a written survey packet including the Extended Objective Measure of Ego Identity Status (EOM-EIS) and measures of sexual identity, physical/sexual preference, and emotional/affective preference. Data from the EOM-EIS suggest that having a sexual minority identity (lesbian, gay, bisexual, or "other" nonheterosexual identity) and reporting strong same-sex sexual or physical preferences are linked with more advanced global, political, religious, and occupational identity development. Heterosexual-identified participants were more likely to score high on identity foreclosure, moratorium, and diffusion, while sexual-minority-identified individuals scored higher on identity achievement. Individuals with strong same-sex physical/sexual preferences showed a pattern of results similar to those of sexual-minority-identified participants. Themes coded from a free-response question highlighted the finding that sexual-minority-identified participants more often viewed their sexual identity as salient and involving an effortful process. These individuals also stressed the importance of having support or modeling for their sexual identity.     

A measurement of the process of adolescence: standardization and interpretation

The Objective Measure of Ego Identity Status (Adams, Shea, & Fitch, 1979) was administered to 350 adolescents (12 to 18 years old) to test the Eriksonian theory of a developmental continuum from role diffusion to identity achievement. The results offer construct validity for the dynamic process proposed by Blos and Erikson, but do not support the categorization procedure as set forth by Adams, Shea, and Fitch. The OMEIS questionnaire lends itself to a qualitative and dynamic interpretation rather than to a quantitative and normative approach. It is suggested that the dynamic interpretation is more sensitive to the psychological reality of the developmental process.     

初中生同伴群体交往与自我同一性发展研究

使用社会认知地图(SCM)与自我同一性状态客观测量的标准化同卷(EOM-EIS-II),对初中生群体交往与自我同-性发展的关系进行研究,结果发现:(1)初中生普遍存在群体归属需要,绝大多数人都认为自己从属于一个或多个群体.(2)群体类型不影响自我同-性发展,班级内不同群体类型间,个体的自我同-性状态不存在显著差异.(3)群体内的个体地位影响自我同-性发展,处于群体中不同地位的个体.其自我同-性状态存在显著差异.     

The identity status of African Americans in middle adolescence: a replication and extension of Forbes and Ashton (1998)

This study is a replication and extension of the work of Forbes and Ashton (1998). Seventy-seven African American high school students completed the revised version of the Extended Objective Measure of Ego Identity Status. Most of the students were found to be in uncommitted identity statuses. Similar results were found in both the ideological and interpersonal domains.     

青少年自我同一性状态的发展及其与父母教养权威性、同一性风格的关系

采用修订的自我同一性状态问卷、同一性风格问卷和父母教养方式问卷对1233名初中生、高中生和大学生进行调查研究,考察青少年自我同一性状态的发展特点以及父母教养权威性、同一性风格和自我同一性状态之间的关系。结果发现:从初中到高中,青少年的自我同一性状态表现出前进的发展趋势,高中和大学阶段处于四种同一性状态的人数比例不存在明显差异;男大学生比女大学生更多地处于同一性获得状态;父母教养权威性既对同一性状态有直接预测作用,又以同一性风格为中介对其产生间接影响。     

Convergent validity in objective measures of identity status: implications for identity status theory

The present study was conducted to test two primary assumptions of Marcia's identity status model: (a) that measures of the identity statuses would relate to identity exploration and commitment in ways consistent with the definitions of the statuses; and (b) that status assignments made using continuous status measures would converge with those made using exploration and commitment scores. Seven hundred fifty-eight university students (174 males, 560 females, 24 not reporting gender) completed the Ego Identity Process Questionnaire, which is a measure of identity exploration and commitment, and the Extended Objective Measure of Ego Identity Status II, which provides continuous measures of each identity status. Results provided mixed support for both assumptions of the identity status model. The findings are discussed in light of recent calls for expansion of identity theory and research beyond the identity status model.     

Internal-Structural Validity of Objective Measure of Ego Identity Status Among Arab Adolescents

The internal structural validity of the Objective Measure of Ego Identity Status scale was tested among Arabic adolescents (N =319). It was hypothesized, based on the fact that the Arabic identity is of the collective and the contextual type, that the 4 identity statuses and the 3 topical domains (occupation, politics, and religion) of the scale would interact, rendering the distribution of the ego-identity status scales dependent on the topical content domains. Cronbach's coefficient alpha for the 4 identity status scales was low. Principal factor analysis of the scale revealed a mismatch between the 4 identity statuses and the factors. However, when the factor analysis was conducted separately within each topical domain, the 4 identity statuses did match the 4 factors. A comparison between Arabic and American participants revealed that Arabic adolescents score higher in the foreclosure identity status.     

Parental attitudes and ego identity status of Turkish adolescents

This study investigated the differences among 403 middle adolescents regarding Marcia's four identity statuses in terms of perceived parental attitudes and gender. The Extended Objective Measure of Ego Identity Status (EOMEIS-2) and Parental Education Scale (PAS) were used to collect data. Results showed that children of authoritative parents scored significantly higher on identity foreclosure than those of neglectful parents. Children of permissive parents scored significantly higher on identity foreclosure than those of neglectful parents. In addition, female students scored higher on achievement identity status while male students scored higher on identity foreclosure.     

Ego Identity Status: A Step in the Differentiation Process

This study examined the relationship between identity development and differentiation levels in young adults. A total of 259 participants completed the Extended Version of the Objective Measure of Ego Identity Status (H. D. Grotevant & G. R. Adams, 1984), the Differentiation of Self Inventory (E. A. Skowron & M. L. Friedlander, 1998), and demographic questions. Results showed that each identity status had a unique effect on the various components of differentiation. Implications of the results for counselors and for future researchers are provided.     

Differences in Ego Identity Among College Students Across Age,Ethnicity, and Gender

In this study I explored differences in scores on identity status associated with age, ethnicity, and gender. To assess identity status, 434 college students were administered the Revised Version of the Extended Objective Measure of Ego Identity Status (Bennion & Adams, 1986). Results indicated that, in general, those who were younger in age or Asian exhibited higher Foreclosure and Identity Diffusion scores. In overall identity scores, there was no difference between men and women. However, for the interpersonal component, men scored higher in levels of Identity Diffusion and Foreclosure. A Gender × Age interaction indicated that women scored higher than men in Identity Achievement at every age range except that of 24 to 26 years, where the women in this group scored lowest in Identity Achievement. This study supports much of the research that has found differences in identity status associated with age, ethnicity, and gender, but some additional unexpected results indicate possible paths for future research.     

Identity status and perceived parenting style in adolescents living in central South Africa

This study investigated the relationship between black South African adolescents’ identity statuses and their perceived parenting styles. Participants (n = 188; 66% = females) were from central South Africa. They completed the Objective Measure of Ego Identity Status and the Parental Authority Questionnaire in addition to a biographic survey that included questions on their family structures (nuclear, extended, other types). Findings suggest that diffused and achieved identity statuses relate to perceived authoritative and permissive parenting styles respectively. Results bring into question the universality of Western identity development and parenting style theories.     

Relational aspects of identity: late adolescents' perceptions of their relationships with parents

This study examines the relationship between late adolescents' identity status and their memories of their relationships to their parents. One hundred male and female undergraduates completed two questionnaires. The first assessed subjects' retrospective perceptions of their affective relationships with parents across five age periods: 1 to 5 years, 5 to 10 years, 10 to 15 years, 15 to 20 years, and the present. The second questionnaire, the Extended Objective Measure of Ego Identity Status, assessed subjects' current identity status. Trend analyses revealed: (1) a significant quadratic trend in identity committed subjects' ratings of the amount of love they felt for mother across the five age periods, and (2) a significant linear trend of increasing love from mother. In contrast, uncommitted subjects showed significant linear trends of decreasing love both for and from their mothers. Results are interpreted as evidence of the importance of resolution of identity issues to the establishment of feelings of intimacy between late adolescents and their parents.     

Quality of Familial Relations in Childhood and Ego Identity Formation: The Moderating Influence of Dispositions of Action Control

This article examines the relation between the retrospective evaluation of family relationships in childhood, ego identity formation, and self-regulation (disposition of action control). The Relationship-Context-Scale, a short version of the Action Control Scale, and the Extended Objective Measure of Ego Identity Status were administered to 176 participants. Analyses revealed that the relation of early family context and identity formation is moderated by individuals' action and state orientation. Family conflict in childhood did not interfere with successful identity formation of action- oriented participants. In contrast, individuals with a state-oriented disposition of action control seemed to benefit from a positive family climate during childhood with respect to their identity formation.     

Motive congruence and interpersonal identity status

This article examines the relationship between interpersonal ego identity formation and congruence of self-attributed and implicit affiliation motives. A TAT-type picture-story test, the Personality Research Form, and the Extended Objective Measure of Ego Identity Status were administered to 177 participants to assess data on affiliation motivation and interpersonal identity formation. According to a scoring system developed by Winter, the picture stories were coded for need for Affiliation. Analyses revealed that motive congruence is significantly associated with participants' level of identity achievement and identity foreclosure in the interpersonal domain. Such a relationship could not be identified for identity diffusion and moratorium.     

Identity status measurement across contexts: variations in measurement structure and mean levels among White American, Hispanic American, and Swedish emerging adults

We conducted this study to examine measurement equivalence and mean differences in identity status across 3 ethnic/cultural contexts: White American, Hispanic American, and Swedish. We used the Extended Objective Measure of Ego Identity Status II (EOM-EIS-II; Bennion & Adams, 1986), a commonly used instrument in the identity status literature. We conducted analyses to ascertain the extent to which the EOM-EIS-II functioned equivalently in 3 ethnically/culturally different samples. The internal structure of the measure was consistent across contexts. When we statistically controlled effects of age and gender, mean differences tended to be largely cross-cultural at the observed level of analysis but to be both cross-ethnic and cross-cultural at the latent level of analysis. This divergence in findings was found despite the limited age range represented in each of the samples. We therefore concluded that measurement error may have played a role in these differences and that data gathered using the EOM-EIS-II should be analyzed using latent variable methods. We discuss results in terms of using the EOM-EIS-II with diverse populations.     

Gender Identity Development and Career Decision-Making Process among High School Learners

Previous studies reveal an inconsistent picture of identity formation for both genders. This study investigated gender differences in identity formation (identity statuses) and career decision-making process among Black South African high school learners. A sample of 156 Grade 12 learners (males = 60, females = 96; mean age = 17.7) participated in the study. Participants completed the Revised Extended Objective Measure of Ego Identity Status (Bennion & Adams, 1986) and the Study Choice Task Inventory (Germeijs & Verschueren, 2006). Males and females were similar in identity formation and career decision-making process. Given that nowadays females are encouraged to consider both stereotypically female plus male paths of career development, gender appears to play less influential role in career decision making.     

少数民族大学生自我同一性的发展特点研究

本研究以少数民族大学生为研究对象,使用自我同一性状态客观测量的标准化问卷,对少数民族大学生的自我同一性发展规律进行分析,研究结果发现:(1)少数民族大学生自我同一性的发展是一个逐渐变化的过程,从一年级到三年级呈波浪式的发展趋势,二年级的自我同一性发展状况最好,并且在人际领域和意识领域的发展形态略不同。(2)相比男生,女生更容易形成同一性前闭状态,并且更容易在人际领域处于同一性混乱状态。文科学生较理科学生更多处于同一性前闭状态。(3)少数民族大学生在自我同一性获得和自我同一性混乱状态存在显著的年级差异。     

Interpersonal identity formation during early adolescence

The purpose of this study was to explore interpersonal identity development during early adolescence. Sixth, seventh, and eighth graders (N = 356) were administered the interpersonal identity scale of the Revised Extended Objective Measure of Ego Identity Status (Bennion & Adams, 1986). Findings revealed that 55% of the sample fell into one of the four discrete identity status categories, with 62% of this group classified as either diffused or foreclosed. Within these two less sophisticated statuses, grade and gender differences were observed. The interpersonal domains of friendship, dating, and sex roles were salient for the young adolescents in this sample, particularly for those classified as diffused and foreclosed. Findings reflect the emergent and/or transitional nature of interpersonal identity development during early adolescence.     

Religious identity among Christian Korean-American adolescents

This exploratory study examined religious identity among Christian Korean-American adolescents. Marcia's 1966 model of identity formation, which conceptualizes identity along dimensions of exploration and commitment, provided the framework for the current study. 49 participants, between the ages of 14 and 19 years, completed the Duke Religion Index, the religion items from the Extended Objective Measure of Ego Identity Status, the Pan-denominational Measure of Personal Devotion and Personal Conservatism, and six questions assessing perceived parental involvement. Analysis indicated that high scores on Organizational and Intrinsic Religiosity were positively correlated with the commitment statuses of Achievement and Foreclosure and negatively correlated with the noncommitment statuses of Moratorium and Diffusion. Also high scores on perceived parental involvement were positively correlated with the nonexploration status of Foreclosure and negatively correlated with the exploration status of Moratorium. Overall, the study provided a general portrait and initial examination of the formation of religious identity in a sample of Christian Korean-American adolescents.     

Ego identity in adolescence: Preliminary validation of a French short-form of the EIPQ

Following the seminal work on personal identity of Erikson, Marcia's identity status model has been one of the most enduring paradigms. The Ego Identity Process Questionnaire (EIPQ; Balistreri et al., 1995) is a widely used measure of identity status. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the factor structure and the reliability of a French version of the EIPQ. The hypothesized structures were not confirmed. In light of the failed attempts to validate the original version, an alternative short-form version of the EIPQ (EIPQ-SF), maintaining the integrity of the original model, was developed in one sample and cross-validated in another sample. Additionally, theoretically consistent associations between the EIPQ-SF dimensions and self-esteem confirmed convergent validity. Globally, the results indicated that the French short-version of the EIPQ might be a useful instrument for the assessment of the identity statuses in adolescence and emerging adulthood.