Assessment Of Identity Development Research Articles

Impact of mentalization, identity diffusion and psychopathology on nonsuicidal self-injury among adolescents.

Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) has become a major public health issue in adolescents. This cross-sectional case-controlled study aims to assess the impact of identity diffusion, psychopathology, and mentalization on NSSI in adolescence. The study sample consisted of 153 adolescents (76.5% girls; Mage = 15.6 years). The sample included 56 clinical cases of NSSI, 45 psychiatric cases without NSSI, and 52 healthy controls, all recruited in Ankara, Türkiye, from June 1, 2022, to August 31, 2022. Mentalization was assessed by "The Movie for the Assessment of Social Cognition" (MASC) which categorizes mentalizing as "correct mentalizing" "hypermentalizing" "undermentalizing" and "no-mentalizing". All participants filled in the Self-Injurious Behavior Screening Questionnaire, Assessment of Identity Development in Adolescence (AIDA), and Youth Self Report (YSR), and Inventory of Statements About Self-injury (ISAS). The NSSI group showed lower mentalizing capacity than the healthy control group (p = .011), and more no-mentalizing errors than the other two groups (p = .014). Identity diffusion scores were higher in the NSSI group than in the other two groups (p < .001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the presence of maternal psychiatric disorder (p = .019, OR = 5.21), identity diffusion (p = .007, OR = 1.02), no mentalizing (p = .049, OR = 1.28), and total psychopathology symptoms (p = .009, OR = 1.12) had a significant impact on NSSI. Current findings suggest that transdiagnostic approaches, including mentalization and identity diffusion, may contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of NSSI and to the development of clinical interventions.

Risk factors and personality characteristics of nonsuicidal self-injurious behavior in clinical sample of female adolescents

IntroductionNonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) is a self-damaging behavior with typical onset in early adolescence, and shows greater prevalence in females. NSSI is defined by recurrent episodes of intentional self-inflicted damage to body tissue, without suicidal intent. These recurring self-inflicted injuries are done by the indivuduel to relief oneself from negative feelings, to resolve interpersonal difficulties, or to induce positive feelings.NSSI in DSM-5. has been included among the conditions in need of further study.NSSI can be interpreted as a maladaptive coping mechanism that can be regarded as an emotional dysregulation. Adverse childhood experiences including physical abuse, neglect or sexual abuse are the strongest predictors of the NSSI. Research has repetitively found strong associations between NSSI and identity diffusion and/or distorted personality traits.ObjectivesThe aim of our study was to assess the association between childhood traumatization, personality characteristics including stages of identity development, and self-injurious behavior among female adolescents that experience difficulties with emotional regulation.MethodsWe compared our results to a Hungarian normative sample. The sample consisted of inpatients adolescents, age between 14 and 18, with a diagnosis consisting of „Emotional disorders with onset specific for childhood” or „Mixed disorders of conduct and emotions” with chronic nonsuicidal self-injurious behavior.Childhood traumatization was measured with the short version of Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (H-CTQ-SF). Identity development and identity diffusion were measured with the Assessment of Identity Development in Adolescence Questionnaire (AIDA). Temperament and character factors were measured with the Junior Temperament and Character Inventory (JTCI).ResultsAdolescent patients with NSSI reported severe and multiplex childhood traumatization. These patients scored higher on novelty seeking and harm avoidance and scored lower on the persistence, self-directedness, and cooperativeness factors in the JTCI. These results were compared with the Hungarien normative sample. Adolescents scored higher on the Discontinuity and Incoherence scales of the AIDA.ConclusionsOur preliminary results suggest that childhood traumatization predicts self-injurious behavior in adolescent females. Additionally, we have found associations between signs indicative of personality disorder, including lower level of self-cohesion, self-integration and self-directedness.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared

Unresolved attachment and identity diffusion in adolescence.

This study examined the severity of unresolved attachment underlying adolescent identity diffusion. Our sample consisted of 180 inpatient adolescents aged 14 to 18 years (77% female, M age = 15.13, SD = 1.35; 23% male, M age = 14.85, SD = 1.41) and 84 age-matched non-clinical adolescents (52% female, M age = 16.14, SD = 1.21; 48% males, M age = 15.98, SD = 1.07). We used the Adult Attachment Projective Picture System (AAP) interview to assess attachment representations and the Assessment of Identity Development in Adolescence (AIDA) questionnaire to evaluate the severity of identity diffusion. Our results demonstrate a higher amount of unresolved attachment and identity diffusion in the patient sample than in the control sample. Furthermore, patients with an unresolved attachment status scored higher on identity diffusion than those with no unresolved attachment pattern. Interestingly, this was not found in the control group. Furthermore, patients with a greater severity of unresolved attachment showed the highest maladaptive identity development scores. Psychotherapeutic interventions integrating attachment-related aspects might be useful to treat young people with identity diffusion.

Effects of a Standardized DBT-A Program on Identity Development in Adolescents.

Identity diffusion plays a central role in the onset of borderline personality disorders. Dialectical Behavioral Therapy for Adolescents (DBT-A) is a treatment program for adolescents with emotional instability and dysregulation. The interest of this study is to examine the potential effects of a standardized and certified DBT-A therapy program on the identity development of adolescents in an inpatient setting. A total of 138 adolescents aged 13 to 18 years with symptoms of severe emotional instability were assessed before and after a certified and standardized 12-week in-patient DBT-A program targeting emotional regulation with the following standardized instruments: the Assessment of Identity Development in Adolescence (AIDA), Scale of the Experience of Emotions (SEE), and Symptom Checklist (SCL-90-R). The results indicate a significant change in identity development, emotion regulation, and general symptoms of psychopathology after treatment with DBT-A. In this large sample of adolescents, DBT-A significantly improved identity development and reduced identity diffusion, however, without a treatment-as-usual control group as a limitation. Nevertheless, our results may become clinically relevant for the prevention of chronic impairment in emotionally unstable adolescents.

Prevalence of Antisocial Behavior among Secondary School Students in Nairobi City County

Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine how common antisocial behavior is among secondary school students in Nairobi City County. &#x0D; Methodology: The study employed a parallel convergent mixed-method design with a target population of 38,641 adolescents, parents, and teachers in Nairobi County secondary schools. Quantitative Data was collected from 398 adolescents in forms 2 and 3 via random sampling. All school categories were represented through cling cluster sampling, while simple random sampling selected respondents within each school. Qualitative data was purposively obtained from 10 students, 10 parents, and 10 teachers. Proven psychometric tools like Assessment of identity Development in Adolescence, Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, Children’s Perception of Inter-Parental Conflict Scale, and Dhaka Stress Scale-Adolescent collected quantitative data. Pearson coefficient correlations were calculated using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS version 25) to explore relationships between variables.&#x0D; Findings: Based on this analysis, this study revealed the prevalence of moderate to severe antisocial behaviour in at least half of the adolescents in Nairobi. This is, however, not unique to the county. In attempting to explain the causes of antisocial behaviour among adolescents using the Problem Behaviour Theory by Jessor, et al. (2004), many scholars have witnessed it as a worldwide phenomenon.&#x0D; Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The study recommended for the involvement of counselling professionals in the screening and treatment. The Ministry of Education must also undertake the task of harmonizing the school curriculum. By doing so, the curriculum can be developed into a well-balanced and comprehensive framework that promotes a healthier learning environment for students.

Family Stressors Experienced by Adolescents in Secondary Schools in Nairobi City County

Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine the different sorts of family stressors among adolescents in secondary schools in Nairobi County have observed.&#x0D; Methodology: The study employed a parallel convergent mixed-method design with a target population of 38,641 adolescents in Nairobi County secondary schools. Quantitative Data was collected from 398 adolescents in forms 2 and 3 via simple random sampling. All school categories were represented through cling cluster sampling, while simple random sampling selected respondents within each school. Qualitative data was purposively obtained from 10 students, 10 parents, and 10 teachers. Proven psychometric tools like Assessment of identity Development in Adolescence, Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, Children’s Perception of Inter-Parental Conflict Scale, and Dhaka Stress Scale-Adolescent collected quantitative data. Pearson coefficient correlations were calculated using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS version 25) to explore relationships between variables.&#x0D; Findings: The study established the types of family stressors and confined itself to parental conflict and family changes. The findings of the study revealed that a slight majority of secondary students experienced less intense parental conflict. However, the study results also showed slight high rate of separation, followed by extramarital affairs and divorce among the families’ stressors. Additionally, the qualitative data analysis showed that parental conflict, separation, and divorce were among the few family stressors unanimously reported by all three respondent groups (parents, teachers and students). Furthermore, both the students and parents reported domestic violence as one of family stressors.&#x0D; Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The study was anchored on Family Systems Theory. The study recommended the involvement of a counsellor, a chaplain and the government. There should also be a wide spread training of parents and the wider community. These interventions should be implemented not only within schools but also within communities. Therefore, parents, teachers, Non-governmental Organizations, churches, the government and stakeholders in psychological counselling must collaborate and implement interventions. This can create a more robust and holistic support system by adopting a comprehensive approach encompassing educational institutions and community settings.

The Assessment of Identity Development in Adolescence (AIDA) Questionnaire: First Psychometric Evaluation in Two North American Samples of Young People

The Assessment of Identity Development in Adolescence (AIDA) is a recently developed measure of identity diffusion in young people. Originally validated in Switzerland, the English version has not yet been validated. Our aim was to evaluate the AIDA’s internal factor structure, internal consistency, incremental validity, and relations to other variables in adolescents and young adults and derive clinical cutoffs for use in clinical settings. Study 1, involving 2,119 undergraduate students between the ages of 18–25 years, confirmed the expected bi-factor structure for the AIDA. Study 2 involved the recruitment of 122 adolescent inpatients (ages 12–17), of whom 36 met full DSM-based criteria for Borderline Personality Disorder, in addition to 164 adolescents of the same age, recruited from public schools (total 286 adolescents). Results of both studies demonstrated strong internal consistency and correlations of the expected magnitude and direction with other self-report measures of personality pathology. In addition, Study 2 demonstrated that the AIDA could successfully discriminate between adolescent inpatients with and without BPD, as well as healthy controls, and established preliminary clinical cutoffs that should be replicated in future studies. In all, these studies provide support for further validation and use of the AIDA in young people.

Identity Integration in Adolescents With Features of Gender Dysphoria Compared to Adolescents in General Population.

Adolescence is an important period for identity formation and identity consolidation is one of the main developmental tasks. Gender identity is an essential aspect of identity but so far little is known about its development. Neither has the identity development of adolescents with features of gender dysphoria (GD) been extensively studied so far. However, adolescents with features of GD have been shown to present extensive psychiatric psychopathology and could therefore be assumed also to have more problems with identity development. We set out to compare the identity integration of adolescents with features of GD (n = 215; 186 natal females, 29 natal males) and adolescents from general population (n = 400; 244 females, 154 males and 2 who did not report their sex) using a culture-adapted Finnish version of an assessment tool for adolescents and young adults on identity in terms of personality functioning, the Assessment of Identity Development in Adolescence (AIDA). AIDA is a 58-item self-report questionnaire enabling dimensional differentiation between healthy and impaired identity development. The continuous AIDA total score (sum score) and its subscales were analyzed using MANOVA, and dichotomized T-scores differentiating identity development in impaired and healthy range using cross-tabulations with chi-square statistics. Adolescents with features of GD showed identity development similar to adolescents in general population. The slight differences seen in AIDA scores were in favor of the GD group. The proportion scoring to identity impairment was lowest among gender-referred adolescents assigned males at birth. Identity integration of the gender-referred adolescents was further compared to that of 77 adolescents in specialist level psychiatric outpatient treatment (67 females, 10 males). The adolescent psychiatric outpatients scored much higher toward impaired identity on all AIDA scales than did the adolescents with features of GD. These results suggest that features of GD are not associated with problems in identity development in adolescents at large. Adolescents with features of GD may have been required to process their identity more, thereby advancing further in their identity consolidation process than young people on average.

Influence of Identity Development on Weight Gain in Adolescent Anorexia Nervosa.

BackgroundAnorexia Nervosa (AN) typically begins during early adolescence, an important phase of personality development. A substantial proportion of adolescent AN patients shows impaired personality functioning, which might be a relevant but understudied aspect of illness severity. The developmental status of identity as key element of personality is suggested to influence inpatient treatment outcome in adolescents with AN.MethodsThis study analyzed existing data of N = 60 adolescents with AN. Multilevel models assessed the influence of identity functioning, measured by the Assessment of Identity Development in Adolescence (AIDA) at admission, on weight gain [BMI (body mass index), BMI-SDS (BMI standard deviation score)] during 10 weeks of inpatient treatment. Moreover, the influence of other indicators of illness severity, i.e., eating disorders and comorbid psychopathologies, was explored.ResultsAs expected, higher AIDA scores negatively influenced the course of weight gain. A similar effect was observed for other psychopathology measures, especially body image distortion. In general, higher weight at admission was associated with less weight gain. Higher weight at admission was also predicted by higher other psychopathology measures, but not AIDA scores.ConclusionThe course of weight gain during inpatient treatment was hampered in adolescent AN patients who have difficulties developing a stable identity. Unlike other aspects of psychopathology, this was independent of the initial weight. Thus, in addition to the level of underweight and other aspects of psychopathology, difficulties in identity development constitute a relevant aspect of illness severity in AN. This recommends consideration of identity development during treatment.

РУССКОЯЗЫЧНАЯ ВЕРСИЯ МЕЖДУНАРОДНОГО ОПРОСНИКА AIDA («ОЦЕНКА ИДЕНТИЧНОСТИ ЛИЧНОСТИ У ПОДРОСТКОВ»)

A new diagnostic tool for assessing personal development and its impairment in adolescents 12–18 years old is presented — the international questionnaire AIDA (Assessment of Identity Development in Adolescence), developed by Swiss authors K. Goth and K. Schmeck in 2012. The tool was conceived by the authors as a questionnaire for international use. It has been translated in European, Latin American and Asian countries. Author's requirement to national translations is to reflect the national specifics as much as possible in the wording of all items of the questionnaires. Since 2017, work has been underway to standardize the Russianlanguage version of the questionnaire. The article contains information about the tool itself, the purposes of its creation by the authors and about the work on the Russian-language version within the frameworkof the international program for the cultural adaptation of the questionnaire. The materials of the stages of work, given by the c reator s of the ques tionnaires , the main psychometric properties: Cronbac's alpha, exploratory factor analysis, multivariate analysis of variance are presented. The results of the assessment of the questionnaire in the clinic in 20 adolescents of both sexes with schizotypal personality disorder, examined in the clinic of the Mental Health Research Centre in a hospital or on an outpatient basis, are presented. The results of using the questionnaire showed significant differences between the samples of adolescents with schizotypal disorder and the normative sample, which may be important for building an individual psychotherapeutic program for working with a teenager, as well as for solving differential diagnostic and research questions in borderline psychiatryof adolescence.

Psychometric Properties of a Cultural Adapted Version of the Assessment of Identity Development in Adolescence in Panama.

The Assessment of Identity Development in Adolescence (AIDA) is a self-report instrument to detect pathological development of Identity. In Panamá, psychometric instruments for assessment of psychopathology in adolescence are lacking. Our aim was to develop a valid and reliable version of the AIDA Inventory for Panamanian Population. AIDA was adapted to Spanish considering cultural aspects of Panamanian population. Two pilot tests were performed prior to main test to assess item-total correlation at subscale, primary scale and total scale levels and internal consistency at subscale level. A mixed sample of students and PD patients (N = 315) completed the AIDA inventory, the “Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire” and “Defense Style Questionnaire−40.” AIDA was retested in a sub sample from school population (n = 98). The Structured Clinical Interview for Axis II Disorders was used for diagnosis of personality disorders in the patient sample (n = 25). Psychometric properties were tested to assess internal consistency, reliability, factorial validity, convergent validity, and criterion validity. AIDA Panama showed excellent internal consistency for the total scale Identity Diffusion with Cronbach's α:0.94 and a retest reliability of 0.84. A Bifactorial CFA was modeled to assess the dimensionality of the inventory. The proportion between OmegaH and Omega at total scales 96% of the variance is explained by a general factor. Furthermore, the Explained Common Variance for the General Factor is 73% supporting unidimensionality. In line with theory, AIDA total scale showed a high positive correlation (r = 0.67) with Total Difficulties scale and high positive correlation (r = 0.71) with Immature Defense scale. The AIDA total score differed highly significant (p = 0.000) between the patient sample and the students with a large effect size (d = 1.02).ConclusionThe adaptation and validation of AIDA for Panamanian adolescent population was successful with good psychometric properties and significant correlations with related psychopathological constructs. AIDA showed high clinical validity by providing a valid discrimination between the school sample and a diagnosed PD sample, in line with the assumption that impaired identity functioning is at the core of personality disorders, especially in adolescence.

Identity Development and Maladaptive Personality Traits in Young Refugees and First- and Second-Generation Migrants.

Refugees are often exposed to a variety of stressors and traumatic events, posing a significant risk for the development of mental disorders. Young refugees may be particularly at risk because adverse life events affect identity formation, a developmental task that is typically expected in adolescence and emerging adulthood. Trauma and cultural changes may alter identity development, potentially leading to identity diffusion, a core concept of personality disorders. However, previous research on personality pathology among refugees is scarce. In this study, we examine identity development and maladaptive personality traits in young refugees and migrants. Refugees from 22 countries of origin were recruited in a German reception center (n = 120) and a group of adults with a migration background in first- or second generation was obtained via web-based recruitment (n = 281). Identity development was measured using the Assessment of Identity Development in Adolescence – Short Form. Maladaptive personality traits were assessed with the Personality Inventory for DSM-5-Brief Form. Group differences between refugees and migrants regarding identity development and trait expression were investigated using t-tests. The relationship between the two measures and their corresponding subscales was examined by means of correlation analyses. Refugees reported significantly higher levels of identity diffusion, negative affectivity, detachment, antagonism, and disinhibition compared to migrants. No significant differences were found for psychoticism. Correlation analyses revealed low to moderate positive associations between identity diffusion and maladaptive trait expression. Possible implications for early phase of resettlement, preventive psychiatric care and further research questions are discussed.

Explicit and Implicit Measures of Identity Diffusion in Adolescent Girls With Borderline Personality Disorder.

The present study is the first to examine both the implicit and explicit self-concept of identity diffusion in a sample of adolescent patients with borderline personality disorder (BPD). A clinical sample of adolescent girls with diagnosed BPD (N = 30; M age = 15.9 years) and a sample of girls with a healthy personality development (N = 33; M age = 16.6 years) completed an implicit association test (IAT) that was adjusted to identity diffusion, the core of BPD. Common domains of child and adolescent psychopathology and core components of BPD were assessed using self-reports on the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), the Borderline Personality Features Scale for Children—11 (BPFSC-11) and the Assessment of Identity Development in Adolescence (AIDA). BPD patients scored significantly higher on explicit measures of borderline pathology than girls with a healthy personality development. A crucial finding for this study was that girls with BPD had a significantly lower implicit preference for stability than their counterparts in the control group. Moreover, explicit measures of borderline personality pathology were significantly correlated with an implicit measure of identity diffusion, the core of BPD. However, when looking at the predictive ability of implicit and explicit measures, only explicit identity diffusion was significantly associated with borderline features. Our data suggests that adolescent girls with BPD differ from healthy individuals not only in their conscious representation but also in their implicit representation of the self with regard to BPD related characteristics, which further advances the need for the identification of at-risk adolescents.

Validating measurement tools for mentalization, emotion regulation difficulties and identity diffusion among Finnish adolescents

Mentalization, emotion regulation, and identity diffusion are theoretically and clinically important transdiagnostic psychological constructs that contribute to mental health. In order to advance meaningful empirical research on these constructs, we need measures that are well tested. In this study, we used confirmatory factor analysis to assess the reliability and construct validity of the Mentalization Questionnaire (MZQ), different versions of the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS), and the Assessment of Identity Development and Identity Diffusion in Adolescence (AIDA) with data from a general population of Finnish adolescents (N = 360). For MZQ, the factor structure and validity of the subscales were not confirmed. For DERS, a short version, that did not include the lack of emotional awareness subscale was the most coherent and recommendable version of the measure, with a good degree of reliability and a reasonable indication of the convergent and discriminative validity between the subscales. For AIDA, the factor structure was confirmed, but when using this measure for research purposes, it should be taken into account that reverse coding items may affect the factor structure by creating a method factor. The reliability of the AIDA was acceptable, but some of the subscales showed poor convergent and discriminative validity.

Does level of motor competence affect the associations between identity health and self-perceptions in adolescents?

Adolescence is a particularly important time for the development of self-perceptions and identity as many environmental and personal factors are influential. One relatively unexplored factor is level of motor competence. To examine the relationship between identity health and self-perceptions in male and female adolescents with low motor competence (LMC) compared to typically developing (TD) adolescents. Adolescents (N=160, 64.4% males, Mage=14.45yrs., SD=0.75) completed the Adolescent Motor Competence Questionnaire (AMCQ), Assessment of Identity Development in Adolescence (AIDA), and Harter's Self-Perception Profile for Adolescents (SPPA). Based on the AMCQ score, the sample was grouped into LMC and TD. Pearson's product moment correlations between the AIDA and SPPA subscales were derived for gender, competence groups, and gender x competence sub-groups. Overall, males had lower AIDA scores (healthier identity) than the females and significant associations with all self-perception domains. For females, only scholastic and social competence, physical appearance, behavioural conduct, close friendship and Global Self-worth (GSW) domains were significantly related to their AIDA score. The adolescents in the LMC group had higher AIDA scores (less-healthier identity) and fewer self-perception domains [scholastic competence, physical appearance, behavioural conduct, close friendships and GSW] were associated to their AIDA scores. For the TD group, all self-perception domains were significantly correlated with their AIDA scores. When grouped by gender and motor competence, the TD males had the healthiest identity scores which were strongly associated with all self-perception subdomains. For males with LMC, only scholastic competence, behavioural conduct and GSW domains were significantly related with their identity score. Females from both competence groups reported significant associations between physical appearance, close friendships, behavioural conduct, and social competence domains with their identity scores. Scholastic competence was also significantly associated with identity only for females with LMC. Positive self-perceptions across a range of domains are associated with a healthier identity, but differ according to level of motor competence and gender. For those with LMC, the self-perception subdomains unrelated to physical activity and sport, such as school-based aspects were associated with a healthier identity. These findings should guide school based interventions to provide support in these domains in order to strengthen self-worth and identity health.

TransIdentity - Identity Development Among Adolescent Trans*people

TransIdentity - Identity Development Among Adolescent Trans*people Identity development is one of the most important developmental tasks of adolescence. Adolescents whose gender identity does not correspond to the gender assigned at birth (trangender people) are also faced with this challenge, as are cis-gender adolescents of the same age. This study is the first to examine the personality function of identity in transgender adolescents. Based on the self report of a population of 69 adolescents from the outpatient unit for gender dysphoria the extent of identity diffusion measured by AIDA (Assessment of Identity Development in Adolescence) was compared with the values of the normative sample consisting of German-speaking pupils. Both the overall construct of identity diffusion and the areas of continuity and coherence showed average values in the examined young people, which speaks against pathological identity development. Nevertheless, identity diffusion was found in over a third (36 %). Most notably the aspect of stabilising relationships and roles was above average, which suggests that positive role identification from the areas of culture, family and body-self is present to a lesser extent than in the norm sample. The identity-stabilizing feeling of social anchoring appears to be impaired in the young transidents studied.

The association between identity status, perceived parenting strategies, and mental health of in-school adolescents in South-West Nigeria: A descriptive survey

Aim: This study was aimed to determine the level of identity development, its associations with perceived parenting strategies, and the mental health of in-school adolescents. Background: Adolescence is marked with the struggle for a balance between subjective psychological differentiation and connection to others, which drives identity formation and guides the path to mental health. Concerning, the developmental processes that incite or escalate adolescents' mental health problems, theories have postulated that social interactions with parents have consequences for the identity status and mental health of adolescents. Methods: A study on 286 in-school adolescents was conducted in Ibadan, between February and April 2016. Data were collected using the Assessment of Identity Development in Adolescents, Scale of Parenting Style, and the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaires. The analysis was done with the Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 21, using Student's t-test, ANOVA, and correlation statistics. Results: The males and younger adolescents, had higher scores for identity discontinuity and incoherence. The scores for perceived mothers' responsiveness correlates positively with the adolescents' score for identity discontinuity (rs= 0.173; P = 0.03), while perceived mothers' demandingness correlates positively with adolescents' identity discontinuity (rs= 0.211; P

Exploring the influence of self-perceptions on the relationship between motor competence and identity in adolescents.

Background and aimsA relationship exists between an adolescent’s level of motor competence and the health of their identity. As those with low motor competence (LMC) form less healthy identities, the aim of this study was to investigate if self-perceptions mediated the negative impact of LMC on identity health.MethodsAdolescents (N = 160) completed the Adolescent Motor Competence Questionnaire (AMCQ), Assessment of Identity Development in Adolescence (AIDA) and the Self Perception Profile for Adolescence (SPPA). The mediating effect of their self-perceptions on the relationship between motor competence and identity health was examined in several ways: for the total sample, between male and females, and level of motor competence. Two motor competence groups were formed by dichotomizing their AMCQ scores (< 83 = LMC).ResultsThere was an indirect effect of self-perceptions of social competence, physical appearance, romantic appeal, behavioural conduct, close friendships and global self-worth on the relationship between motor competence and identity health for the total sample (N = 160, 64.4% males, Mage = 14.45 SD = .75, 12 to 16 years). No indirect effects were significant for females however close friendships and global self-worth were significant for the males. When the sample was grouped for motor competence, indirect effects of social competence, athletic competence, physical appearance, behavioural conduct, and global self-worth were significant for the high motor competence (HMC) group. The only self-perception significant for the LMC group was close friendships.ConclusionSelf-perceptions in several domains mediated the relationship between motor competence and identity health, and these differed for level of motor competence but not gender. Those with LMC who had a higher self-perception in the close friendships domain had a healthier identity. Designing physical activity programs that focus on skill development and forming close friendships are important for adolescents with LMC.

The Influence of Motor Competence on Adolescent Identity Health: A Mixed Method Study

ABSTRACTOur identity develops with age, and many impacting factors will determine whether it is healthy or unhealthy. A particularly fragile phase of identity development occurs during adolescence when level of motor competence may be influential, yet is rarely considered. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine male and female adolescent’s perceptions towards their motor competence and identity development. In-depth information was also collected to understand what factors are important towards identity development during adolescence. Method: An explanatory sequential mixed methods study was used to examine the extent motor competence influenced the health of an adolescent’s identity. A sample of 160 adolescents (male n = 103, female n = 57, Mage = 14.45 SD = .75) completed the Adolescent Motor Competence Questionnaire (AMCQ) and the Assessment of Identity Development in Adolescence (AIDA). The AMCQ scores were used to group the participants into high (HMC = > 83) and low (LMC = < 83) motor competence. Results: More females had less-healthy identities than males and those with LMC had less-healthy identities than those with HMC. Subsamples of 17 participants were interviewed in order to explain these results. The most at risk group, females with LMC, identified negative peer comparisons, poor social support and higher stress levels to achieve academic performance as key challenges. Conclusions. Well-designed support services for those with LMC, especially for the females should incorporate activities to develop individual competency and close friendships.

Moments of Rupture and Resolution of the Therapeutic Alliance in the Case of an Adolescent Diagnosed with Identity Diffusion: Their Impact on Psychotherapeutic Outcomes

The therapeutic alliance is an important component of the therapeutic process; however, very few studies have explored how the therapeutic alliance is constructed with adolescent patients. A single case study with a mixed methodology was conducted to identify moments of rupture and attempts to resolve the therapeutic alliance, based on the microanalysis of the successful treatment of an adolescent with identity diffusion indicators and depressive symptomatology. The Youth Outcome Questionnaire-Self Report, the Assessment of Identity Development in Adolescence, the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-I), and the Social Problem Solving Inventory-Revised were administered. Thirty-two sessions were analyzed using the Ruptures and Resolutions Coding System developed by Eubanks, Muran, and Safran (2015), in which 29 rupture moments were found (11 withdrawals and 18 confrontations). The frequency and characteristics of these relevant moments, as well as their relationship with therapeutic success at the end of the process, were analyzed through pre-post differences, using Z-ratio . The clinical implications of immediately resolving moments of rupture during the session are discussed.