Abstract
Parental identity formation may be a factor of the utmost importance in helping us to understand the mechanisms of adaptation to parenthood. However, our knowledge regarding the processes involved in the development of parental identity is very limited. In the present study the relationships between three dimensions of parental identity (commitment, in-depth exploration, reconsideration of commitment), and two trait-like characteristics that determine the quality of family life, i.e. romantic adult attachment and perfectionism were analyzed. 206 mothers aged 22 to 40 participated in the study (M = 33.33, SD = 3.68). The results revealed that a high level in anxious attachment, avoidant attachment and maladaptive aspects of perfectionism (other-oriented and socially-prescribed perfectionism) positively correlate with a low level of parental identity commitment and a high level of reconsideration of parental commitment. Regression analysis revealed that especially attachment-related anxiety and other-oriented perfectionism can be treated as independent, specific predictors of an increased crisis of parental identity.
Highlights
One of the key developmental processes, beginning with the adolescence period throughout adulthood, is formation of identity, understood as development of a relatively stable self-definition, by undertaking strong commitment in important domains (Vignoles, Schwartz, & Luyckx, 2011)
The presented study was devoted to formation of parental identity (Fadjukoff et al, 2016; Piotrowski, 2018), which is an identity domain that is rarely included in contemporary, processual research on identity (Luyckx, Schwartz et al, 2008; Crocetti, et al, 2008)
The most significant relationships occurred in the case of reconsideration of commitment, which turned out to be positively correlated with avoidance and anxiety in a romantic relationship and with other-oriented perfectionism as well as socially-prescribed perfectionism
Summary
One of the key developmental processes, beginning with the adolescence period throughout adulthood, is formation of identity, understood as development of a relatively stable self-definition, by undertaking strong commitment in important domains (Vignoles, Schwartz, & Luyckx, 2011). Such characteristics as anxiety, indecision, depression which may hinder the process of making important decisions or increase doubts and difficulties at a later time, after making identity decisions, contributing to persistence of the identity crisis. Parental identity formation may help us better understand the mechanisms of adaptation to parenthood. The transition to parenthood is a life-changing process that has a significant impact on the subsequent development of a parent and a child. Taking into account the recently stressed role of identity development in the occurrence of psychopathology (Klimstra & Denissen, 2017), it is reasonable to suggest that parental identity development can be a crucial factor that could help us better understand the adaptation to parenthood and parental psychopathology. Our knowledge regarding the processes involved in the formation of parental identity is very limited
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