Perceived Importance of Identity Domains Among Young Indians

Abstract

The literature on identity development has grown tremendously in recent years; nevertheless, there has been an ongoing debate with respect to the domains that are considered to be relevant to the study of identity, especially in non-Euro-American cultures. The present study, therefore, was an attempt to explore and identify the domains that young Indians ascribe importance to. The sample (N = 169) consisted of students and working professionals, between the ages of 14 and 34, who were classified into three groups: adolescents, young adults, and adults. The Identity Domains Ranking Scale, a list of 12 distinct identity domains, was administered to the sample; mean rankings were used to ascertain the importance ascribed by each of the three groups to the different identity domains. Results indicated similarities across the three age groups with respect to the importance placed on six domains: family, career, moral values, performance, hobbies and interests, and same-sex friendships. Further, developmental trends emerged with respect to the identity domains of career, community, same-sex friendships, moral values, romantic relationships, and physical appearance.