Reconsideration Of Commitment Research Articles

Becoming European: Mid- and Short-Term Development of a European Identity Among Adolescents

ABSTRACT European identity formation is a component of political identity and linked to the support of European institutions and values. To understand how it develops, we examined three processes of identity formation (commitment, in-depth exploration, and reconsideration of commitment) on a short- and mid-term time scale, and their interrelations. A total of 371 German adolescents (M age = 14.24, SD age = 0.55, 60.37% females) participated in a longitudinal study and in a ten-day daily diary study. We conducted latent growth curve analysis (LGCM) and assessed rank-order stability and profile similarity for both time scales. Next, conditional LGCMs were run to examine associations of both time scales. We found a significant increase of all identity processes from the beginning to the middle of the school year and a significant decrease from the middle to the end of the school year. Across 10 days, growth curves varied according to the identity process. Stabilities were high for both time scales. Commitment at the beginning of the school year was negatively associated with fluctuations in commitment. Our results highlight the importance of examining different time scales and focusing on specific domains for understanding identity development in adolescence. They further indicate that short-term processes are associated with long-term development.

Processes and Statuses of Parental Identity at Different Stages of Parenthood

ABSTRACT The study aimed to verify whether parents at different stages of parenthood differ in the intensity of three identity processes in the parental domain: commitment, in-depth exploration, and reconsideration of commitment. We also examined whether there were differences between men and women in this context. We jointly analyzed results from seven independent cross-sectional samples examined between 2017 and 2022 in Poland. A total of 5454 parents aged 18 to 59 participated in the studies at different stages of parenthood: up to 3 years after becoming a parent, being a parent for 4 to 7 years, being a parent for 8 to 12 years, being a parent for 13 to 20 years and being a parent for 21 years or more. Parents at different stages of parenthood were found to have significantly different levels of in-depth exploration and reconsideration of commitment. The results suggest that in the first years of parenthood, parents experience a relatively high in-depth exploration and reconsideration of commitment, which may decrease over time. The analyses also indicated that women are characterized by higher levels of in-depth exploration than men at each stage of parenthood. Men, on the other hand, experience stronger identity uncertainty related to the parental role.

Relational Identity and Relationship Functioning in Emerging Adulthood: A Brief Report

Developing a coherent sense of self and establishing a long-term relationship are two developmental tasks during emerging adulthood. Guided by psychosocial developmental theory, this study explores the associations between relational identity processes (commitment, in-depth exploration, reconsideration of commitments) and relationship outcomes (satisfaction and stability) using a large sample of Spanish emerging adults in a romantic relationship. Results revealed that commitment as part of relational identity is associated with higher relationship satisfaction and stability, while reconsideration of commitments is associated with lower relationship satisfaction and stability. Gender acted as a moderator between in-depth exploration and relationship outcomes, with males reporting more positive associations compared to females. This study expands identity theory by demonstrating how relational identity is crucial when understanding relationship outcomes in emerging adulthood.

Identity Matters for Well-Being: The Longitudinal Associations Between Identity Processes and Well-Being in Adolescents with Different Cultural Backgrounds.

Adolescents' identity processes and their levels of well-being are likely to be intertwined. On the one hand, how adolescents cope with the core developmental task of forming their identity has important implications for their well-being. On the other hand, experiencing a condition of well-being can help adolescents consolidate their identity. This longitudinal study adopted a multidimensional and culturally sensitive perspective to unravel how identity processes (i.e., commitment, in-depth exploration, and reconsideration of commitment) in two domains (i.e., educational and interpersonal identity) were developmentally related to multiple indicators of positive well-being (i.e., physical health, subjective, psychological, and social well-being) in adolescents with different cultural backgrounds. Participants were 1396 adolescents (Mage = 15.73, SDage = 1.23, 49.93% females; 20.89% with a migrant background) who completed questionnaires at four-time points across one year. Results of cross-lagged models confirmed the positive reciprocal associations between identity commitment and well-being in all its facets. The nuanced picture of associations of in-depth exploration and reconsideration of commitment with multiple dimensions of well-being highlighted the importance of adopting a multi-dimensional perspective on well-being and a domain-specific approach to identity. Multigroup analyses indicated that the associations between identity commitment in the educational domain and well-being are relevant, especially for adolescents with a migrant background. Overall, this study highlights the centrality of identity processes for adolescents' adaptation and points to a dynamic loop of reciprocal influences at the core of youth positive development.

Identity statuses across various life domains and well-being in emerging adults

The aim of the study was to examine identity statuses in various life domains and the relationship between identity and well-being. We adopted the three-dimensional model of identity (Crocetti et al., 2008), including: in-depth exploration, commitment, and reconsideration of commitment. Moreover, in accordance with domain-specific approach (Goossens, 2001), we sought to empirically derive identity statuses in various life domains. The participants included 835 emerging adults (Mage = 21.81, SD = 2.33). We examined eight domains previously identified in qualitative research: personality characteristics, past experiences, family, friends and acquaintances, worldview, hobbies and interests, aims and plans for the future, and occupation. To measure three identity processes, we used a modified version of the Utrecht-Management of Identity Commitments Scale (Crocetti et al., 2008) and to measure well-being we used the Mental Health Continuum-Short Form (Keyes, 2013). Results indicate that, although the statuses identified in previous research were, to a large extent, replicated (except moratorium), people were classified in different statuses in different domains; thus, we conclude that talking about statuses should be limited to a given domain. Well-being was the highest in achievement statuses and the lowest in diffusion, but only in two examined domains: personality characteristics and past experience.

Revision of Utrecht-Management Identity Commitment Scale and cultural equivalence in Chinese ethnic minority

ABSTRACT To revise the Chinese version of the Utrecht-Management of Identity Commitments Scale (U-MICS) and to investigate the reliability, validity, and practicability of the scale in Chinese cultural background and Mongolian and Han ethnic cultures, a questionnaire survey was conducted among 434 college students (189 Mongolian and 245 Han) through statistical methods, such as project analysis, exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, and model comparison. After deleting items 5 and 6, the Chinese version of U-MICS had good structural validity and there was equivalence between Mongolian and Han subculture groups, including three subscales: commitment, in-depth exploration and reconsideration of commitment. The scale has good internal consistency reliability (0.704–0.883) and test–retest reliability (0.541–0.677). Confirmatory factor analysis showed that the model fits well. The revised U-MICS has good reliability and validity in Mongolian and Han subjects, and it is an effective measurement tool.

The resilience and coping strategies in immigrant and non-immigrant adolescents and identity development

ABSTRACT Migration-related risk factors may impact the association between coping strategies, resilience, and identity development, one of the fundamental developmental tasks in adolescence. We examined the relationship between resilience and coping strategies in immigrant and non-immigrant adolescents’ identity development. On a sample of Turkish adolescents (n = 399, 50.9% girls), we conducted six hierarchical regression models to predict identity dimensions from resilience and coping strategies. For both immigrants and non-immigrants, seeking social support predicted a more mature and successful identity while avoidance predicted less reconsideration of commitment. For non-immigrants, seeking social support and avoidance was associated with in-depth exploration whereas for immigrants, only seeking social support was linked to in-depth exploration. Additionally, resilience predicted a successful identity for immigrants. Results were discussed considering migration-related difficulties

Dimensions of Identity Development Scale: Confirmatory factor analysis, gender invariance, and external validity of the Persian version.

The present study was conducted to examine the psychometric properties and gender invariance of the Iranian version of the Dimensions of Identity Development Scale (DIDS). A total of 1453 adolescents (50.8% female; 14-18 years old, mean = 15.48) participated in a cross-sectional study and completed the DIDS and the Youth Self-Report of behavior problems. The Confirmatory Factor Analysis supported the six-factor model of the DIDS, echoing past studies showing the original 5th factor (Exploration in Depth) being divided into Exploration in Depth and Reconsidering the Commitment. The invariance testing showed comparable measurement properties of the DIDS across males and females (strict measurement invariance). Further, behavior problems were associated positively with Ruminative Exploration and negatively with Commitment Making, Identification with Commitments, Exploration in Depth, and Reconsideration of Commitments, whereas the opposite was true for academic performance. A six-factor DIDS was shown to be a valid and reliable measure for the assessment of identity development dimensions among Iranian adolescents. Future studies in the Iranian context evaluating the identity clusters derived from identity dimensions and their gender differences are warranted.

Direction of associations between personality traits and educational identity processes: Between- and within-person associations.

In adolescence, personality traits and educational identity processes are interwoven. Previous studies have shown that personality traits predict healthy identity commitment and exploration in education. However, the direction of associations between personality traits and an identity process that searches for another identity option (i.e., reconsideration of commitment) is unclear. Furthermore, there is a lack of prospective studies regarding the direction of the association between personality traits and the educational identity process using within-person methods. Therefore, this study examined the direction of these associations. Participants of this four-wave longitudinal study comprised 618 Japanese 13-year-old adolescents (53.3% girls). This study involved a 1-year-interval assessment. Cross-lagged panel models (CLPM) indicated that four personality traits (neuroticism, agreeableness, and conscientiousness) predicted three educational identity processes, while reconsideration of commitment predicted two personality traits (i.e., neuroticism and conscientiousness). Random intercept cross-lagged panel models (RI-CLPM) indicated that agreeableness predicted healthy commitment, while commitment predicted agreeableness at within-person level. The findings from CLPM suggest that reconsideration of commitment is a significant factor to predict healthy (i.e., conscientiousness) and unhealthy (i.e., neuroticism) personality traits in individual differences. Furthermore, the findings from RI-CLPM suggest that agreeableness may be a key trait in promoting healthy educational identity commitment. Theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed.

Age Matters? The Moderating Effect of Age on the Longitudinal Relationship between Upward and Downward Comparisons on Instagram and Identity Processes During Emerging Adulthood

This study tested whether age moderates the longitudinal relationships between upward and downward comparisons on Instagram and three identity processes (i.e., commitment, in-depth exploration, and reconsideration of commitment). Two hundred and eleven British emerging adults completed two self-report surveys, two months apart, in early 2020. A cross-lagged panel model with interaction terms found that age moderated the relationships between both upward and downward comparisons on Instagram and commitment. Contingent moderations were found: the relationship between upward comparisons and commitment was negative for older participants, whilst the relationship between downward comparisons and commitment was negative for younger participants. Significant age differences were not found in the paths between the comparison behaviours and the two exploratory processes. Findings therefore provide evidence to suggest that developmental factors may inform the identity implications of social comparisons on Instagram during emerging adulthood, and thus, developmental sensitivity is required when supporting emerging adults to navigate the platform.

Role of parents and friends in adolescents’ identity formation in Indonesia.

Abstract. The identity formation of adolescents in a collective society is dependent on their significant relationship with other people. Therefore, this study aims to examine the role of parents and friends in adolescents’ identity formation in Indonesia. This research was conducted using a quantitative survey method involving 489 adolescents with 142, 178, and 169 in their early, middle, and late adolescent phases ranging from 12 to 21 years. Data collection was carried out on adolescents who are currently studying in Surabaya by using the convenience sampling method. The Indonesian version of the UtrechtManagement of Identity Commitments Scale, Shortened Version of Child's Report on Parent Behavior Inventory, Friendship Quality Scale, and Caregiving Questionnaire were used to measure the dimensions of identity, parenting, friendship quality, and support-giving. The hierarchical regression analysis was used to determine the role of the dimensions of parenting, friendship quality, and support giving gradually to identity formation. The results showed that parenting, friendship quality, and support contribute to commitment (R2= 0.291), in-depth exploration (R2= 0.241), and reconsideration of commitment (R2 = 0.110). It also indicates that the adolescent's identity formation in Indonesia embraces a collective culture inseparable from authority figures and peer groups. The implication of this research is that differences in the quality and form of relationships with parents and friends can lead to differences in adolescent identity formation.Keywords: adolescents; friendship; identity formation; Indonesia; parenting.

Quality of sibling relationships and identity formation: Identification processes as a mediator

Identity formation is an adolescent developmental task that continues throughout life. Its process cannot be separated from the role of the significant person for adolescents, including siblings. Therefore, this study aims to examine the identification process (modeling and de-identification) as a mediator in the relationship between sibling relationships in identity formations commitment, in-depth exploration, and reconsideration of commitment. Four hundred adolescents aged 12-21 years participated in this study. The Indonesian version of the Utrecht-Management of Identity Commitments Scale (U-MICS), the Sibling Relationship Questionnaire (SRQ), and the Sibling Influence Scale (SIS) were used to measure identity formation, sibling relationship quality, and identification process. Data analysis was performed using regression analysis and the Sobel test. The results showed that the identification process could be a mediator between the quality of sibling relationships and identity formation. Also, the differences in quality among siblings lead adolescents to take different paths of the identification process, modeling, or de-identification, which impact the process of identity formation differences. Adolescents involved in modeling can learn and imitate older siblings to achieve an optimal identity. On the other hand, adolescents involved in de-identification find it more difficult and experience more challenges in achieving an optimal identity

Особенности родительской идентичности российских мужчин и женщин

The relevance of the study of parental identity is determined by the current state of society, as well as a significant social demand for the study of internal determinants of parenthood, stuffing of the psychological and pedagogical context, patterns, dynamic transformations, and developing ways to develop the parental identity.We studied the specifics of parental identity processes among Russian fathers and mothers. We present the results of empirical study obtained on a sample of men and women who are Russian-speaking residents of Russia. The study involved respondents (N=721) aged 25 to 56 years (M=35,4; SD=2,66), of which 44% were female. We used Caregiving and Breadwinning Identity and Reflected Appraisal Inventory (J. Pleck and colleagues), test of statuses and structure of ego-identity (E.L. Soldatova), Dimensions of Identity Development Scale (DIDS) (K. Luyckx and colleagues), Identity Stage Resolution Index (ISRI) (J.E. Cote) and its modification for parental identity, the Utrecht scale for studying identity processes-Parent identity (U-MICS-PI) (modification by K. Piotrowski) and test of life-meaningful orientations (D.A. Leontiev). We hypothesized that there were some differences in the processes and content characteristics of the parental identity of Russian men and women. Fathers were found to appraise higher their identity, breadwinning identity, their maturity, and demonstrate higher scores for identity processes such as exploration in breadth and exploration in depth, reconsideration of commitment and identification with commitment; and lower scores for caregiving identity, parental identity and the processes of commitment making and ruminative exploration. In the factor structure of parental identity, in addition to two factors common to men and women that describe the sense of identity and meaningfulness of life, men also identify factors that characterize the age-related transformations of parenthood and the exploration and commitment for fathering. For the first time, we studied the processes of the parental identity of Russian men and women.

To compare, or not to compare? Age moderates the relationship between social comparisons on instagram and identity processes during adolescence and emerging adulthood

IntroductionSocial networking sites such as Instagram have provided young people with unprecedented opportunities for social comparison, and such behaviour can have implications for identity development. Although initial evidence suggests that there may be developmental differences in terms of how such behaviour informs identity development during adolescence and emerging adulthood, all previous research has been conducted in highly individualistic cultural contexts (i.e., the UK and the US). MethodTo shed further light on these possible developmental differences and to determine whether results replicate amongst young people from more collectivist cultural contexts, cross-sectional survey data were collected from 1,085 (M age = 18.87, SD = 2.57; Female = 77.8%) adolescents and emerging adults in Romania and Serbia between December 2019 and March 2020. The relationships between social comparisons of ability and opinion on Instagram and three key identity processes (i.e., commitment, in-depth exploration, and reconsideration of commitment) were then examined. ResultHierarchical multiple regression analyses identified significant age differences in terms of how social comparisons of ability and opinion on Instagram associated with identity commitment and in-depth exploration. Furthermore, possible cultural differences were identified in terms of how social comparisons of opinion on Instagram associated with the identity processes. ConclusionOverall, results suggest that whilst social comparisons on Instagram can elicit self-focus and prompt further exploration, developmental and cultural factors may influence how such behaviour informs identity development during adolescence and emerging adulthood.

The Utrecht-Management of Identity Commitments Scale (U-MICS)

Abstract. The current study proposed the adaptation of the Utrecht-Management of Identity Commitments Scale (U-MICS) to the religious domain as an instrument to measure both individuals’ religious identity formation processes (when a variable-centered approach is adopted) and religious identity statuses (when a person-centered approach is adopted). The scale has been tested on a sample of 727 Italian participants aged 13–65 years, by collecting evidence of score structure, convergent, and criterion-related validity. Regarding the score structure validity, we confirmed that religious identity formation consists of three processes (commitment, in-depth exploration, reconsideration of commitment) and that, by using these scores, individuals can be placed into five different religious identity clusters (achievement, diffusion, foreclosure, moratorium, searching moratorium). As to the convergent and criterion-related validity, we tested the relationship that the three factors (religious identity formation processes) and the five clusters (religious identity statuses) have with religiousness and subjective well-being, respectively. Results indicate that the instrument is a promising tool to measure religious identity. Future studies should test this scale in other countries and with people from diverse religious traditions.

Domain-specific correlates of parental and romantic identity processes

ABSTRACT Drawing on the Meeus-Crocetti identity model, it was analysed whether the sense of identity in the parental and romantic domains is related to domain-specific functioning or whether they are related to a broad spectrum of outcomes. Four hundred and fifty-nine individuals (58% women), aged 21‒40 (M = 33.88, SD = 4.39), participated in this cross-sectional study. Using structural equation modelling it was analysed whether the parental and romantic relationship identity processes (commitment, in-depth exploration, reconsideration of commitment) are associated with parental and relational outcomes. The results showed that a sense of parental identity turned out to be mostly related to childrearing stress and parental role restrictions, while a sense of romantic relationship identity was associated with romantic relationship stress and romantic relationship conflicts. The results support a domain-specific approach to the study of identity, suggesting that not only are parental and romantic identities only weakly related to each other, but also that their development is linked to specific parental or relational experiences.

In the Eye of the Beholder: Effects of Parent-reported Parenting and Adolescent-reported Parenting on Identity among German and Zambian Adolescents

ABSTRACT While a substantial number of studies have shown that perceived parenting plays an important role in identity formation, research employing a multi-informant and cross-cultural approach is still lacking. Attempting to fill this gap, we hypothesized that adolescent-reported parenting mediates the link between parent-reported parenting and identity dimensions (i.e., commitment, in-depth exploration, and reconsideration of commitment) in German and Zambian samples. In total, 731 adolescents (n Zambia = 244; M Age = 14.68; 47% female) and their parents (M Age = 45.55; 82% female) completed questionnaires on parenting (Alabama Parenting Questionnaire) and identity (Utrecht-Management of Identity Commitments Scale; adolescents only). Regarding positive parenting, in both the German and the Zambian sample, an indirect effect of parent-reported parenting via adolescent-reported parenting on commitment, in-depth exploration, and reconsideration of commitment was found. For negative parenting, there were indirect effects on in-depth exploration and reconsideration of commitment, but no indirect effect was found for commitment. Taken together, our results suggest that adolescents’ subjective experience of parenting represents the significant element that impacts adolescents’ identity formation.

The role of coping strategies in interpersonal identity development of war-affected immigrant adolescents.

Increasing immigration around the world has affected the lives of children and adolescents. The ability to cope with the stress of migration and adaptation to a new culture likely is an important protective factor for optimal identity development under these conditions. The present study examined the role of coping strategies in interpersonal identity development among immigrant adolescents. The sample consisted of 93 (43% females) first-generation immigrant adolescents who migrated to Turkey due to war in their home countries. They have been living in the suburbs in Ankara and attending regular public schools. A two-wave longitudinal design was employed with a 4-month interval between waves. Identity development was measured using the Utrecht-Management of Identity Commitments Scale focusing on the dimensions commitment, in-depth exploration, and reconsideration of commitment in the domain of interpersonal relations. The coping strategies problem-solving, social support seeking, and avoidance were assessed with the Coping Strategies Scale. Results showed that none of the identity dimensions significantly predicted the use of specific coping strategies. However, different coping strategies predicted relative change in some identity dimensions. These results are discussed in light of previous findings on associations between identity development and coping strategies in different populations, and the difficulties associated with being an immigrant.

Longitudinal associations between Identity processes and goal engagement and disengagement: Directionality of effects and correlated change

AbstractDevelopmental regulation strategies and identity processes are hypothesized as influencing one another over time. This three‐wave longitudinal study (N = 369; 20% male) examined, for the first time, the extent to which (a) identity exploration and commitment processes and (b) developmental regulation strategies (goal engagement and disengagement) predicted one another over time; and whether change in identity processes was correlated with change in developmental regulation strategies. Cross‐lagged analyses indicated that goal engagement predicted commitment processes and exploration in breadth whereas goal disengagement predicted exploration in depth and reconsideration of commitment. Change in goal engagement was correlated with change in commitment processes, reconsideration of commitment, and exploration in breadth and depth. Change in goal disengagement was correlated with change in all three exploration processes and in reconsideration of commitment. Our longitudinal results suggest mechanisms of human development (stability‐flexibility) and may suggest broader developmental principles underlying goal pursuit and identity work among emerging adults.

Motive-Driven Interpersonal Identity Development: Moderating Effects of Perceived Parenting Quality and Sense of Self-Determination

Living and acting in line with one's implicit motives fosters peoples’ well-being across a wide array of cultural contexts. Yet, not all individuals commit to goals that reflect their implicit motives. Research points to resources that relate to congruence of implicit and explicit motives. We hypothesized that such resources also relate to motive-congruent identity development. In detail, we assumed that perceived parenting quality (Study 1) and sense of self-determination (Study 2) moderate the relationship between the implicit need for affiliation and dimensions of identity development in the interpersonal domain of friendship. Evidence supporting our assumptions was found in both studies: Among adolescents who reported low levels of parenting quality higher levels of the implicit affiliation motive were associated with lower levels of commitment and higher levels of reconsideration of commitment (Study 1). Moreover, a positive association between the implicit affiliation motive and commitment was verified for adolescents who were high in self-determination (Study 2). Less straightforward findings on in-depth exploration point to the Janus-faced nature of exploration processes. To conclude, the implicit need for affiliation seems to play a crucial role in interpersonal identity development if particular social and personal resources are available. Implications for future research are discussed.