Youth movements as educational settings promoting personal development: Comparing motivation and identity formation in formal and non-formal education contexts

Abstract

Identity formation is a dominant aspect of adolescents’ development. Based on the Self-Determination Theory, we hypothesized that supporting basic psychological needs will explain identity formation mediated by motivational regulation and exploration. Previous studies suggested that support of identity exploration should be included as an additional essential psychological need. Two studies (N's=309, 410) investigated the effects of these environmental attributes on identity formation within two education contexts: school and youth movements. Both studies provided partial empirical support for the hypothesis, demonstrating that: (a) identity exploration facilitation may be considered as an additional aspect of basic needs; (b) basic needs support and identity exploration facilitation explained identity formation across two measures of identity; (c) identity development was explained better in the context of youth movements.