Personal Identity in College and the Work Context: Developmental Trajectories and Psychosocial Functioning

2013 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 222-237 ◽  
Author(s):  
Koen Luyckx ◽  
Theo A. Klimstra ◽  
Seth J. Schwartz ◽  
Bart Duriez

Personal identity formation represents a core developmental challenge for adolescents and young adults. Because much of the identity literature focuses on college students, it is necessary to conduct a detailed inquiry into the ways in which specific commitment and exploration processes develop over time for college students and for employed individuals. Two samples (456 college students and 318 employed individuals) were used to identify identity status trajectories over time and to examine external correlates of these trajectories (i.e. depressive symptoms, self–esteem, identity centrality, community integration, and sense of adulthood). Similar identity trajectories emerged in both college students and employed individuals. Four of these trajectories corresponded to Marcia's identity statuses. In addition, apart from the ‘classical’ or troubled diffusion trajectory, a carefree diffusion trajectory was also obtained. Whereas individuals on an identity–achieved pathway fared best in terms of the outcome measures, individuals in the troubled diffusion trajectory fared worst in terms of self–esteem, depressive symptoms, and community integration over time. Implications and suggestions for future research are discussed. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (18) ◽  
pp. 5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dominika Karaś ◽  
Ewa Topolewska-Siedzik ◽  
Oana Negru-Subtirica

Identity development is undoubtedly one of the most crucial tasks in human life. Identity is also one of the most frequently examined issues in contemporary developmental psychology research. In the literature, we can find various definitions of identity, as well as various theoretical conceptualizations and models. The present paper describes contemporary models of personal identity, provides the definitions of the notions (as processes/dimensions/styles/modes) included in these models, measurement methods, as well as a review of the research results obtained in these various theoretical paradigms. The review includes multiple approaches – from Marcia’s classical identity status paradigm, through neo-Eriksonian models (such as the three and five dimensional models, identity styles, identity processes in adulthood) up to narrative views. Finally, we present conclusions based on the analyses of these models and implications for future research and theory.



Author(s):  
Jie Zhang ◽  
Xiangli Gu ◽  
Xiaoxia Zhang ◽  
Jihye Lee ◽  
Mei Chang ◽  
...  

High prevalence of depression and physical inactivity have been consistently reported among college students, especially in females. Guided by Lubans et al.’s conceptual framework, the primary purpose of this study was to examine the longitudinal relationships of PA motivation with leisure-time PA and depressive symptoms among college students over one academic year. Employing a longitudinal repeated measure design, 1004 college students in China were recruited in this study (28.3% males and 71.7% females; M age = 18.93 ± 0.64 years; 18–22 years old). Participants completed previously validated questionnaires assessing PA motivation (perceived competence beliefs and task values toward PA), leisure-time PA participation, and depressive symptoms in Fall 2016 (Time 1) and Fall 2017 (Time 2). Both male and female college students showed a significant increase of depressive symptoms from freshmen to sophomores (p < 0.05). The regression models indicated that perceived competence beliefs and task values toward PA were significant predictors of depressive symptoms at Time 2 (p < 0.05) after controlling for Time 1 measures in males and females, respectively. Physically active college students consistently demonstrated higher PA motivation, and they displayed fewer depressive symptoms compared to inactive peers over time (p < 0.05). The findings suggest sex-specified motivational intervention strategies and PA promotion programs/opportunities are needed to reduce depression symptoms among college students over time.



2013 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 155-165 ◽  
Author(s):  
Seth J. Schwartz ◽  
Su Yeong Kim ◽  
Susan Krauss Whitbourne ◽  
Byron L. Zamboanga ◽  
Robert S. Weisskirch ◽  
...  


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-14
Author(s):  
Nikki L. Hill ◽  
Sakshi Bhargava ◽  
Emily Bratlee-Whitaker ◽  
Jennifer R. Turner ◽  
Monique J. Brown ◽  
...  

Background: Subjective cognitive decline (SCD) may be an early indicator of cognitive impairment, but depressive symptoms can confound this relationship. Associations may be influenced by differences between individuals (i.e., between-persons) or how each individual changes in their experiences over time (i.e., within-persons). Objective: We examined depressive symptoms as a mediator of the between- and within-person associations of SCD and objective memory in older adults. Methods: Coordinated analyses were conducted across four datasets drawn from large longitudinal studies. Samples (range: n = 1,889 to n = 15,841) included participants 65 years of age or older with no dementia at baseline. We used multilevel structural equation modeling to examine the mediation of SCD and objective memory through depressive symptoms, as well as direct relationships among SCD, objective memory, and depressive symptoms. Results: Older adults who were more likely to report SCD had lower objective memory on average (between-person associations), and depressive symptoms partially mediated this relationship in three of four datasets. However, changes in depressive symptoms did not mediate the relationship between reports of SCD and declines in objective memory in three of four datasets (within-person associations). Conclusion: Individual differences in depressive symptoms, and not changes in an individual’s depressive symptoms over time, partially explain the link between SCD and objective memory. Older adults with SCD and depressive symptoms may be at greater risk for poor cognitive outcomes. Future research should explore how perceived changes in memory affect other aspects of psychological well-being, and how these relationships influence cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease risk.



Author(s):  
Selina Xingyuan Zhou ◽  
Louis Leung

This study investigated the relationships between perceived social network sites (SNS)-game addiction and gratifications, loneliness, leisure boredom, self-esteem, and usage of SNS-games. Data were gathered from a sample of 342 college students aged 18 to 22 in mainland China. Factor analysis yielded a three-factor gratifications structure (achievement, inclusion, and entertainment) based on the 11 motives for playing an SNS game obtained in a focus group. As hypothesized, loneliness and leisure boredom were found to be significant predictors of the level of SNS-game use and likelihood of addiction. SNS-game addicts tended to be male, lonely, often leisurely bored, and motivated by winning virtual money and gaining a sense of achievement. However, self-esteem was not a significant predictor. Implications for university administrators and suggestions for future research were discussed.



Author(s):  
Rory A. Pfund ◽  
Meredith K. Ginley ◽  
James P. Whelan ◽  
Samuel C. Peter ◽  
Briana S. Wynn ◽  
...  

Social influence affects college students’ gambling behaviours. However, few studies have experimentally investigated the influence of social interaction on college students’ gambling behaviour, and those studies that have yielded mixed findings. Women college students (n = 109) who endorsed recreational gambling behaviour were randomly assigned to gamble on electronic gambling machines (EGMs) in three conditions: warm social interaction from a confederate (i.e., initiating and maintaining conversation), cold social interaction from a confederate (i.e., refraining from initiating and maintaining conversation), or gambling alone. On average, participants in the warm social interaction condition placed significantly fewer spins and spent more time placing bets on the EGMs compared to the cold social interaction and no confederate conditions. When examining gambling behaviour over time, participants in the warm social interaction condition increased their bet size and the time between their bets over time compared to the cold interaction and no confederate conditions. These results suggest that interpersonal interactions significantly affect gambling behaviour. However, future research is needed to investigate these social processes in other forms of gambling and other gambling experiences.RésuméL’influence sociale affecte les comportements de jeu des étudiants collégiaux et universitaires. Cependant, peu d’études ont analysé de manière expérimentale l’influence de l’interaction sociale sur le comportement de jeu des étudiants, et les études ont donné des résultats mitigés. Les étudiantes (n = 109) qui ont adopté un comportement de jeu récréatif ont été affectées au hasard à des jeux électroniques en fonction d’une des trois conditions suivantes : avec interaction sociale amicale d’un camarade (c.-à-d., qui amorce et entretient la conversation), avec interaction sociale froide d’un camarade (qui s’abstient d’amorcer et d’entretenir la conversation) ou en solitaire. En moyenne, les participantes en condition d’interaction sociale amicale ont joué beaucoup moins de tours et ont consacré plus de temps à parier sur les appareils de jeu électroniques, comparées à ceux qui étaient en interaction sociale froide ou en solitaire. En examinant le comportement de jeu sur une période donnée, les participantes en condition d’interaction sociale amicale ont augmenté la taille des paris et la durée entre les paris par rapport à celles qui étaient dans une interaction sociale froide et en solitaire. Ces résultats font ressortir que les interactions interpersonnelles affectent de manière importante le comportement du jeu. Cependant, d’autres recherches doivent être effectuées pour analyser ces processus sociaux dans d’autres formes de jeux de hasard et d’autres expériences de jeu.



2020 ◽  
pp. 027243162097853
Author(s):  
Karlijn W. J. de Jonge-Heesen ◽  
Sanne P. A. Rasing ◽  
Ad A. Vermulst ◽  
Yuli R. Tak ◽  
Rutger C. M. E. Engels ◽  
...  

Adolescent depression is a major concern for public health and is associated with negative consequences and outcomes. Identifying adolescent characteristics that might relate to the risk for developing depression is crucial. This study investigated bidirectional associations between coping strategies and depressive symptoms over time. The participants were 1,341 secondary school students from the Netherlands ([Formula: see text] = 13.91, SD = 0.55, 47.5% girls) who completed self-report questionnaires at six waves over 2.5 years. Cross-lagged models were used to investigate the associations between coping strategies and depressive symptoms. Coping strategies did not predict depressive symptoms over time. However, there was an indication of the reverse relationship. When adolescents experienced elevated depressive symptoms, they used fewer adaptive techniques to target stress. Gender differences were found in the use of avoidance. The inconsistencies of these findings with earlier studies are discussed and provide new directions for future research on working mechanisms underlying depression prevention programs.



2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 735-753 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kaylin Ratner ◽  
Jane Mendle ◽  
Anthony L. Burrow ◽  
Felix Thoemmes

We investigated reciprocity between depressive symptoms and a novel construct called derailment, which indexes perceived changes in identity and self-direction. People who are “derailed” have trouble reconciling how their life course has unfolded over time and, as a result, do not easily identify with their former self. College students ( N = 939) participated in a preregistered, four-wave longitudinal study over one academic year. Depression positively predicted subsequent derailment across all components of the model, suggesting that perceived disruptions in life course may occur in response to elevated depressive symptoms. Contrary to predictions, derailment negatively predicted later depression across most waves, indicating that felt changes in identity and self-direction could buffer against downstream mood deteriorations. Although our findings did not support reciprocity, prospective evidence that perceived instability of identity and self-direction relate to an increase in depressive symptoms positions derailment as a new and potentially important facet of the depressive phenotype.



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