Ego Identity Status Research Articles

The relationship between ego identity status and acculturation strategies (comparative study)

The present study aims to investigate the acculturation strategies employed by Yemeni students in Turkey and China, and their relationship with Ego identity status and perceived cultural distance. The study involved 506 Yemeni students enrolled in Turkish and Chinese universities, with 290 participants studying in Turkey (57.3 %) and 216 studying in China (42.7 %). The age of the participants ranged from 18 to 42 years, with a standard deviation of 5.45 and a mean of 27.34 years. The results indicated that the strategies adopted by Yemeni students were similar in both countries. Ego-identity states were found to be predictors of acculturation strategies. Identity achievement was found to predict integration strategy, while foreclosure identity predicted separation strategy. Additionally, identity moratorium and identity diffusion predicted the marginalization strategy. Knowledge of the host country's language was a predictor of willingness to integrate into the host society. The immigrant's lack of knowledge of the host country's language led them to adopt a separation strategy. Cultural distance was also found to be highly predictive of the assimilation and separation strategy. Furthermore, the presence of family members with the immigrants led to the adoption of tendencies to preserve the native culture, while immigrants living without their families in the host country tended to adopt the assimilation strategy.

Establishing self-concordant goals: a longitudinal study on the influence of ego identity on goal self-concordance.

Self-concordant goals are those that align closely with an individual's intrinsic interests and values, driving autonomous motivation, and resulting in higher satisfaction and goal achievement. The relevance of studying the link between ego identity and goal self-concordance lies in understanding how a well-defined ego identity can foster the pursuit of authentic and fulfilling goals. This study investigates the relationship between ego identity and goal self-concordance, focusing on how individuals' sense of identity influences their alignment with personal goals. Data were gathered through a cross-sectional analysis of 292 students and a longitudinal follow-up with 98 participants over two intervals. Results confirmed significant correlations between ego identity status and various dimensions of goal self-concordance. Notably, different ego identity statuses exhibited distinct levels of goal self-concordance, ranked from highest to lowest as follows: identity achievement, achievement-foreclosure intermediate, moratorium, foreclosure, moratorium-diffusion intermediate, and diffusion. Cross-lagged analysis revealed a causal relationship where ego identity influences goal self-concordance, providing insights into the cognitive and behavioral processes involved in goal setting. This study extends the implications of the goal self-concordance model and reveals a causal relationship between ego identity status and goal self-concordance. From a practical perspective, our findings suggest that educational and developmental interventions aimed at supporting identity development and commitment could lead to more self-concordant goal setting. Such programs could ultimately promote greater well-being and personal growth among students.

Effect of parental rearing styles on adolescent ego identity: the mediating role of involutionary attitudes.

Previous studies have found that negative parental rearing styles can negatively predict the acquisition of ego identity, while it has not been discussed whether the overcompetitive attitudes, a stable personality, will further hinder their ego identity development under the model of educational involutionary. The study used the Overcompetitive Attitude Scale, the Brief Parental Rearing Styles Questionnaire, and the Ego Identity Status Scale to investigate 550 young students in a school in Suzhou in order to explore the influence of parental rearing styles on adolescents' ego identity development and the role of involutional attitudes. The results showed that: (1) Adolescents' overcompetitive attitude was positively predicted by parental rejection and overprotection, while it was negatively predicted by parental emotional warmth. (2) Parental emotional warmth significantly predicted adolescents' ego identity status more favorably than parental rejection, overprotection, and overcompetitive attitude. (3) Overcompetitive attitude plays a partial intermediary role between parental rearing style and ego identity.

Personality traits and identity statuses as predictors of personality functioning in mid and late adolescence

This study had four objectives: (a) examining the sex-related differences in the level of personality functioning (LOPF), (b) exploring the association between personality traits (PT) and LOPF, (c) exploring the association between identity statuses (IS) and LOPF, (d) exploring whether PT and IS can predict LOPF. A sample of 1450 students aged 15–21 years from high schools and universities from all the governorates of Lebanon participated in this online study. The Arabic version of three measures were used: (a) Revised Personality Inventory: Honesty-Humility, Emotionality, EXtraversion, Agreeableness (versus Anger), Conscientiousness, Openness to Experience (HEXACO) – PI – R, (b) Extended Objective Measure of Ego Identity Status (EOM-EIS), (c) Level of Personality Functioning Screener- Brief Form 2.0 (LOPF-BF-2.0) were rated for the sample. Results showed no statistical differences in LOPF between males and females; IS and LOPF were correlated similarly in both males and females except for Achievement (Ach), which did not correlate significantly with LOPF in males, but correlated negatively and significantly among females. Conversely, Moratorium (M), Foreclosure (F) and Diffusion (D) correlated positively with LOPF in both males and females. All Identity statuses could predict LOPF, except for F; likewise, all personality dimensions Humility (H), Extraversion (X), Agreeableness (A), and Conscientiousness (C) could predict LOPF except for Openness to experience (O). Implications of the results are discussed.

A Study on the Ego-identity Status and Mental Health of College Students

A Study on the Ego-identity Status and Mental Health of College Students

Paths to the Buddhist priesthood: A qualitative study of Kōyasan priests

Factors that currently lead Japanese men to enter and remain in the Buddhist priesthood are poorly understood. This article reports the results of a qualitative study that examines the profiles of a seminary instructor and six Shingon Buddhist priests (真言) at Kōyasan guesthouse temples (高野山). The data, collected from semi-structured interviews, were analyzed with ATLAS.ti using a thematic analysis approach. The study identified seven key themes related to (1) family, (2) mentoring relationships, (3) education, (4) labor, (5) spiritual practices, (6) religious doctrines and faith, and (7) the devotion of guests. For the six priests, family connections were found to play an especially critical role in initial decisions to enter the priesthood, whereas other factors chiefly contributed to sustained commitment. The results are discussed in terms of theories of ‘costly signalling’, ego-identity statuses, and the Japanese tendency to construct personal identity within the context of social affiliations.

중학생의 자아정체감 형성을 위한 인문학 이미지 활용 집단 상담 프로그램 개발 및 효과검증

This study was conducted to develop a group counseling program for the establishment of the ego identity using the humanities images from “Hope for the flowers” and to validate for the middle school first year students. The final program was confirmed through the process of planning, organizing, preparatory and evaluation based on the 4-step program development model by Kim et al. The final program consisted of a total of 10 sessions with contents of humanities images and play activities tailored to Marcia's ego identity status. The program was scheduled to be held twice a week for 45 minutes per session. With the goal of ego identity establishment of middle school students, Marcia's four identity status were linked to the humanistic images of four developmental stages of butterfly and the contents were composed of customized play activities. The ego identity formation of the middle school students was significantly increased by applying our developed counseling program.

ЦЕННОСТНЫЕ ФАКТОРЫ ЭГО-ИДЕНТИЧНОСТИ СУБЪЕКТОВ В БРАЧНОЙ ДИАДЕ

This paper presents the results of an empirical study of ego-identity values in marital dyads with and without children. The research hypothesis was the assumption of the specificity of a complicated interdependent relationship between ego-identity parameters and value orientations in subjects of a marital dyad with and without children. The study employed two techniques: the “Study of Ego-Identity Structure. SEI test” by E. L. Soldatova and the “Schwartz Questionnaire for the Study of Personal Values” which consists of two parts: “Values Survey” and the “Personality Profile”. The sample included spouses (registered married couples) with and without children. The total sample size is 200 people: 50 married couples with children (of pre-school and primary school age) and 50 married couples with no children. The study reveals that dyads with and without children share similar values and ego-identity parameters, suggesting that the respondents are experiencing a normative crisis of adulthood. At the same time, married couples with children, compared to those without children, have higher values of creative power of development, acknowledge responsibility for their choices, and are more likely to recognize and accept their feelings and trust their emotions. Spouses with children are less likely to explicitly state their values and more likely to be guided by them in their behavior. This is especially true of values related to self-transcendence. The parameters of value orientations and ego-identity are closely correlated with the parameters of the value sphere, and there is a pronounced specificity of this relationship in couples with and without children. Dyads without children are characterized by a greater variety of ego-identity value factors (five factors vs. three). The main value factors of ego-identity statuses in dyads with children are tradition at the belief level, and universalism and conformity at the behavior level. On the other hand, for dyads without children, the main influencing factors are conformity, security and hedonism at the belief level, and hedonism and conformity at the behavior level. The main value factors affecting ego-identity parameters in dyads with children are conformity at the belief level, and security and stimulation at the behavior level. For dyads without children, the main value factors are kindness, non-significance of achievements, authority, conformity at the belief level, and stimulation at the behavior level.

On the way to adult identity: An evaluation of identity status and narrative identity models of development

Successful resolution of identity is fundamental for a good life. According to the ego identity status model, emerging adults explore and commit to various identity domains. Concurrently, emerging adults are theorized to develop their narrative identity. Yet, it is unclear whether ego identity processes help to establish a narrative identity, or if the development of a narrative identity facilitates ego identity achievement. Therefore, we assessed autobiographical meaning making in repeated narratives and identity status processes of 180 emerging adults (Mage = 20.47, SDage = 3.35, 68.90 % female) at two measurements 8-months apart. Results showed differential effects on identity depending on the meaning made and suggest that narrative identity provides the ground for identity status processes such as identity exploration.

TO UNDERSTAND AND COMPARETHE IDENTITY FORMATION PROCESS IN ADOLESCENTSON THE BASIS OF GENDER AND AGE THROUGH JAMES MARCIAS MODEL OF IDENTITY STATUSES

The purpose of the study was to investigate Marcias ego identity paradigm in the Indian adolescent population.The study examined the role of age and gender and on the process of Identity formation. A representative sample of 161 adolescents(girls and boys) was collected across three different age groups 13-15, 15-17 and 17-19 years. The Ego Identity Process Questionnaire (EIPQ) was used to measure participants level of Exploration and Commitment and accordingly classify them into one of Marcias four Ego Identity Statuses: Achievement, Moratorium, Foreclosure, and Diffusion identity.The results indicated that most of the adolescents in todays times are realistic and more informed about their lives and decisions. Thus, mean scores for both girls (70.24) and boys (70.24) were high in Identity Achievement. Also, both genders were found to be equally active in exploration and commitment domains.The T- scores indicated the comparison between girls and boys in different Identity statuses. The values were found to be non- significant indicating an equal growth in both the genders.

Comparison of Self-Differentiation and Identity Statuses in Twins and Nontwins.

Formation of identity and differentiation is crucial in the development process of adolescents and young people. Despite many studies on identity status and self-differentiation in adolescence and early adulthood stages, this issue has been less examined among twins. This study was conducted to compare self-differentiation and identity statuses in twins and nontwins. The sample of the study consisted of 128 identical twins, 176 nonidentical twins and 170 nontwins aged from 13 to 30 years and living in Mashhad in Iran, who completed the Objective Measure of Ego Identity Status and Self-Differentiation questionnaires. The results showed that the self-differentiation of identical and nonidentical twins was significantly higher than nontwins. The results also showed that level of Foreclosure identity, Moratorium identity and Achieved identity was similar among identical twins, nonidentical twins and nontwins, but significantly different in terms of Diffusion identity. Further, the results showed that twins younger than 18 years had scores higher than nontwins and twins over 18 years in terms of Diffusion identity. Findings revealed that females were significantly lower than males for Moratorium identity. The adolescence period and co-twins may be the reason for the high levels of Diffusion identity and self-differentiation. Also, it seems that identity development and differentiation are related to emotional and cognitive development.

Subjective Well-Being and Religious Ego Identity Development in Conservative Christian University Students

Spiritual maturity greatly impacts psychosocial development (Bravo, Pearson, & Stevens, 2016; Dreyer & Dreyer, 2012; Power & McKinney, 2014). Much of the identity formation process occurs during adolescence and early adulthood (Good & Willoughby, 2014; Hardy et al., 2011). The current study sampled students from a private Christian university to examine the relationship between religious ego identity status and subjective well-being. Positive relationships were found between religious ego identity and subjective well-being. Discussion includes the unique developmental needs of emerging adults to help Christian universities better facilitate their students’ growth and education.

Manifestation of civic position in the context of the development of ego-identity in early and late adolescence

Socio-political changes in the world actualize one of the most significant social roles of every person — the citizen. Modern youth are gradually joining the socially active part of the population. This article briefly presents the view of foreign researchers on the development of citizenship from childhood. It also describes the results of the research, the aim of which is to study the characteristics of civic position in early and late adulthood. In this case, the subject’s ego-identity status is taken into account. The main research method is an ascertaining experiment using methods aimed at establishing the status of ego-identity of boys and girls. The study involved 729 people (217 boys and 512 girls) aged 14–24 years. The main hypotheses of the study were the following assumptions. As they grow older, the statuses of the general ego identity are replaced by higher ones. The level of formation of civic position is partly contained in the level of personal identity: a high level of civic position correlates to high indicators of general ego-identity. According to the results of the experiment, the hypotheses are confirmed. In addition, gender differences were found in the studied indicators. This study can serve as a basis for further exploration of the topics of civic position, social maturity and activity. In the future, it is possible to create social programs aimed at raising the level of political consciousness and involvement of young people in social activities.

Identity Formation: Role of Academic Achievement and Gender Among College Students

Erikson's work on identity development focused on the question, 'who am I'? As in society, identity formation is argued to be one of the key developmental tasks. This study aims to explore identity formation among undergraduate college students of Punjab across gender and achievement. The study was carried out on 200 undergraduate students (80 males and 120 females) from colleges under Punjab University, Chandigarh. The objective was to measure the Ego Identity Status which was done by using a tool developed by Bennion and Adams (1986). Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to test the hypothesis formulated for the study. It was found that majority of undergraduate college students are in diffusion and achievement identity status. Female students outnumbered the male students in 'Identity Achievement', 'Foreclosure' and 'Moratorium' status. There were no significant gender differences in the academic achievement of undergraduate college students. There was an interaction effect of gender and identity formation on achievement. It was found that among males identity achievement and foreclosure identity status groups performed better than moratorium and diffusion groups of undergraduate college.

Relacije samopoštovanja i razvoja Ja-identiteta

Identity and self-esteem are important concepts in the development and understanding of individual's self-perception. Perceptions and opinions of significant others influence the construction of adolescents' representations of self and the formation of identity, which, in turn, can be a strong predictor of self-esteem. The significance of our research is reflected in the examination of subjective choices and commitment to roles, values and goals in the domains of religion, occupation, politics and relationships, which can all affect self-esteem. Hence, this paper aims to examine the relationship between identity and self-esteem, more precisely, the impact of identity on self-esteem. The study involved 487 adolescents who completed two questionnaires: the Extended Objective Measure of Ego Identity Status (EOMEIS-2), which contains four statuses: Achievement, Foreclosure, Diffusion identity and Moratorium, and the Self-Liking Self-Competence Scale (SLSC) used for the assessment of self-esteem, consisting of two dimensions: Self-liking and Self-competence. Correlation analysis of four identity statuses and two dimensions of self-esteem showed a positive correlation of Self-competence and Self-liking with Achievement identity, and a negative correlation of the two dimensions of self-esteem with the Foreclosure, Diffusion identity and Moratorium. In order to analyze the influence of identity on self-esteem in more detail, a regression analysis was performed. When it comes to the dimensions of Self-competence and Self-liking, the most significant predictor is Achievement identity, while Moratorium and Foreclosure identity are less impactful predictors, with a negative sign. The results are interpreted in terms of the influence of identity on the level of self-esteem, as well as the importance of support from others, such as parents and peers. Finally, we provide guidelines for further research of the connection between identity, self-esteem and other concepts which play a significant role in the process of developing the concept of self.

Self-efficacy and identity statuses in students of Iran

The purpose of the present study is to analyse the relationship between identity status and self-efficacy. The statistical population included all graduate students employed at the Training Centre of Ayatollah Khatami in the city of Yazd in 2009. The sample consisted of 122 students who were selected by convenience sampling. The chosen research method is descriptive correlational. Bennion and Adams’ Extended Objective Measure of Ego Identity Status and the Self-Efficacy Scale were used for measuring the identity statuses and self-efficacy. The results of this study show that there is a positive significant relationship between achieved identity status, self-efficacy (p < 0.01) and diffused identity; there is a negative significant relationship between diffused identity status and self-efficacy (p < 0.05); and there is a negative significant relationship between foreclosure identity status and self-efficacy (p < 0.01). According to this study, for providing qualified forces, the training centres can employ forces by detecting identity statuses and self-efficacy of volunteers. Keywords: Identity, identity status, students, self-efficacy.

Identity and values in adolescents

The purpose of the present study is to analyse the relationship between identity status and personal values. The statistical population included all freshmen from University of Tehran in 2015. The sample consisted of 100 students who were selected by convenience sampling. The chosen research method is descriptive correlational. Bennion and Adams’ Extended Objective Measure of Ego Identity Status and the personal values questionnaire were used for measuring the identity bases and personal values, respectively. The results of this study show that there is a positive significant relationship between achieved Identity status and religious values (p < 0.01), diffused identity and economic values (p < 0.05), diffused identity and value of power (p < 0.05), foreclosure identity status and religious values (p < 0.05) and foreclosure identity status and value of family (p < 0.05). In addition, the results indicate that there is a significant negative relationship between achieved identity status and economic values (p < 0.01), diffused identity and religious values (p < 0.01) and foreclosure identity status and aesthetic values (p < 0.01). In this study, the moratorium identity status showed no significant relationship with none of the variables. There was also no significant relationship between other personal values and identity status. Based on these findings, it can be concluded that the quality of personal values which originates from family, society and cultural background plays a major role in the formation of identity. Other findings are also discussed.
 
 Keywords: Identity, values, adolescents, identification, students

Changes of ego identity and psychosocial maturity in nursing students: A longitudinal study

BackgroundNursing students who have achieved ego identity are able to develop their careers to become professional nurses. To care for patients in a clinical context, nursing students need to be psychologically and socially mature. Attainment of ego identity and maturity is a key developmental task during students' time at university as they prepare to become professional nurses. ObjectivesThis study was conducted to examine changes of ego identity and psychosocial maturity in nursing students. Design and settingA longitudinal study design was employed between June 2016 and June 2019 at a university in a metropolis in South Korea. ParticipantsThe participants were 102 nursing students who responded to surveys on at least two occasions. Seventy-six nursing students completed questionnaires on four occasions (in 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019). MethodsData were collected through self-report questionnaires composed of items assessing ego identity, psychosocial maturity, and demographic characteristics. Participants returned questionnaires every June from 2016 to 2019. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, the kappa statistic, repeated-measures analysis of variance, and one-way analysis of variance. ResultsIn terms of ego identity status, 17.1% of nursing students progressed to a more advanced status, 5.3% of them regressed to a less developed status, 57.9% of students had a fluctuating status, and 19.7% of them had a status that remained stable. Overall, psychosocial maturity in nursing students increased over time. Psychosocial maturity was higher among students in the achievement and moratorium statuses than among those in other statuses. ConclusionsThese findings indicate that ego identity status fluctuated during students' time at nursing school, while psychosocial maturity simultaneously improved. Nursing students who explored their options also became psychologically and socially mature.

Construction of a religious identity status questionnaire

This study presents a construction and psychometric evaluation of the Religious Identity Status Questionnaire ? RISQ for the assessment of the religious identity status according to Marcia?s ego identity status approach. The initial item pool was generated based on Erikson?s theory of psychosocial development, Marcia?s ego identity status approach and interviews with adolescents and young adults. A factor analysis of the initial item pool was performed on data obtained from a sample of 394 secondary school and university students from Serbia to select items for the questionnaire. Validity of the questionnaire was examined on a sample of 1155 subjects. The results of the CFA suggest that subscales of the RISQ measure four factors corresponding to the identity statuses of Marcia?s model. Correlations with ideological identity subscales of the EOM?EIS?2 suggest the convergent validity of the questionnaire. Configural measurement invariance was established for gender and denominational groups. Metric invariance was established for gender and among orthodox and catholic participants, whereas scalar invariance was established for gender, but not for denominational groups.

Identity development among Lebanese youth: An investigation of Marcia's paradigm

The purpose of this study was to investigate Marcia's ego identity paradigm in a sample of Lebanese youth. Another purpose was to examine correlates to identity statuses, namely gender and academic achievement. The sample consisted of 255 students, 18–21 years old, selected randomly from one university in Lebanon. The Ego Identity Process Questionnaire (EIPQ) was used to measure participants' level of Exploration and Commitment, and accordingly, classify them into one of Marcia's four Ego Identity Statuses: Achievement, Moratorium, Foreclosure, and Diffusion. Also, participants' self-reported cumulative grade point average (GPA) served as achievement data. The results showed that most participants were in either Foreclosure (29.41%) or Moratorium (29.02%). No significant gender or academic differences were found across the statuses. In future research, factors such as family structure, war, and political instability that might affect individuals' identity statuses must be investigated using larger and more representative samples.