scholarly journals Identity processes and well-being: Exploring different types of identity exploration

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Phuong Linh Le Nguyen

The identity exploration process includes exploration in-depth, exploration in-breadth, and ruminative exploration, which cover the process of examining multiple potential future plans and directions, investigating them deeply and sometimes ruminatively, before arriving at a committed identity. Each of the three exploration types have demonstrated different associations with various measures of well-being and ill-being in the literature, due to their unique approaches to identity development. The current study investigated the relationship between the two adaptive exploration processes – exploration in-depth and in-breadth – with measures of self-esteem and distress in a diverse US-based sample. We found that both in-depth and in-breadth exploration were positively related to self-esteem. Interestingly, when ruminative exploration was included in the models, thus partialling out the maladaptive component of in-depth or in-breadth exploration, both of these adaptive processes showed a negative association with distress that were not previously present in individual simple linear models. Future research should explicitly control for the cross-correlation patterns among these constructs for a clearer picture of the consequences and correlates of the identity development process.

Author(s):  
Patricia Kahlbaugh ◽  
Christopher J. Budnick

The present study examines the benefits of an in-person intergenerational contact program called SAGE (Successful Aging and Inter-Generational Experiences). The SAGE Program pairs older adults (M age 85 years) and younger adults (M age 23 years) for 2 to 3-hour weekly meetings over a 7-week period, where participants can share memories, skills, and values, and foster new perspectives and friendships. We expected the SAGE Program to benefit both older and younger participants with respect to identity processes, subjective well-being, positive mood, and wisdom while reducing ageist beliefs compared to old and young participants serving as their matched controls. Overall, participants in the SAGE Program reported greater identity synthesis,subjective well-being, and positive mood. Exploratory analyses suggested that identity synthesis is a likely mediator of that effect. The SAGE Program did not reduce ageist beliefs, but age differences in ageism were found. We address additional results,limitations, and future research directions.


Author(s):  
SOLAJA MAYOWA OLUDELE

Community-based green care initiative is an intervention geared towards satisfying the environmental, social, psychological, medical and material care for stimulating healthy well-being of children, adolescence and adults. Evidence-based studies have established that there is continual degeneration of self-esteem among adolescence in developing countries including Nigeria due to problems associated with unsustainable parenting styles and teaching patterns. It is in the light of this, the study examines a community-based green care initiative as a catalyst for sustainable parenting styles, teaching patterns and child self-esteem in Ogun State, Nigeria. The study adopted exploratory survey design and tested three hypotheses on the subject matter. A self-structured questionnaire and in-depth interview guide were used for data collection. Quantitative data were analysed through percentage distribution table and multiple regressions while qualitative data were analysed using direct quotes. Findings were discussed with reference to relevant empirical literatures and future research highlighted.


2017 ◽  
Vol 43 (3) ◽  
pp. 329-336 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miron Zuckerman ◽  
Chen Li ◽  
Edward F. Diener

Findings from a meta-analysis on gender differences in self-esteem (Zuckerman et al., 2016) suggest that the relation between the degree to which societal conditions are favorable to women and gender difference in self-esteem might be quadratic; when conditions improve, women’s self-esteem (relative to that of men) trends downward but when conditions continue to improve, women’s self-esteem begins to trend upward. Testing whether these relations generalize to subjective well-being, the present study found a quadratic relation between improving societal conditions and the gender difference in life satisfaction and positive affect (women are lower than men when societal conditions are moderately favorable compared to when they are at their worst and at their best); the relation was linear for negative emotion (women report more negative emotions than men when societal conditions are better). Directions for future research that will address potential explanations for these results are proposed.


10.28945/4275 ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 14 ◽  
pp. 367-382 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lilia Mantai

Aim/Purpose: This paper investigates the role of social support in the PhD. Despite universities’ efforts to provide a collegial PhD experience, candidates report isolation and loneliness in doctoral education – a factor contributing to attrition. Background: Previous research (Mantai & Dowling, 2015) defined social support in four categories: moral, emotional, guiding and mentoring, companionship, and collegiality. Social support is facilitated in various formal and informal groupings. Socialisation into scholarly communities promotes researcher identities through a sense of belonging. Developing a strong researcher identity through social connections benefits a student’s physical and emotional well-being, PhD progress, and investment in researcher careers. Methodology: This paper is based on thematic analysis of focus groups and one-on-one interviews with 64 PhD candidates from two Australian metropolitan universities. Contribution: Students’ perspectives on social support during PhD study are largely missing in the literature, as more importance is placed on academic support. This paper provides rich empirical evidence to show that support afforded by candidates’ personal, social, and professional relationships is critical in doctoral candidates’ identity development. Findings: First, investigating social support from the student perspective shows that it promotes students’ researcher identity development, sense of belonging, and community. Second, the paper extends our understanding of what social support means as it examines this concept in the context of student diversity. This paper confirms social support in the PhD extends beyond the institutional higher degree research environment and includes outside support by family, friends as well as online communities. Recommendations for Practitioners: Promote and improve support services, networking opportunities, and social connections within academia and beyond. Invest in understanding students’ diverse backgrounds and individual circumstances as well as goals. Recommendation for Researchers: Evaluate existing social support structures in place and identify social support needs of doctoral candidates at your particular institution. Impact on Society: Institutions, governments, and individuals heavily invest in PhD degrees financially and psychologically. This research aims to improve outcomes for society by developing skilled and confident graduates. Future Research: Future research ought to focus on the issues experienced by students of particular demographic backgrounds and on how to best support them.


Author(s):  
Fred B. Bryant ◽  
Karen A. Osowski ◽  
Jennifer L. Smith

We extended the previous experimental work with older adults by testing mediating variables through which savoring valuable “life lessons” improves attitudes toward aging and boosts well-being. A sample of 202 adults aged 65 or older were randomly assigned to either an experimental condition (in which they reflected on important lessons life had taught them) or a control condition (in which they reflected on their typical morning routine). Contemplating life lessons increased feelings of gratitude, which in turn boosted positive attitudes toward aging, life satisfaction, state hope, and state self-esteem. Additional analyses supported a three-path mediational model, in which reflecting on life lessons increased levels of savoring, which led to greater gratitude, which in turn predicted stronger positive attitudes toward aging, life satisfaction, and hope. We discuss implications of these findings for future research on savoring interventions for older adults and suggest future directions designed to advance understanding of these experimental effects.


2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-51 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon Ozer ◽  
Alan Meca ◽  
Seth J. Schwartz

Identity research has flourished in recent years based on the theoretical foundation proposed by Erikson. Identity development is generally conceptualized as a process occurring through an interplay between the individual and her or his social context. Consequently, one of the challenges facing identity research is to become more culturally sensitive—that is, to examine whether models and theories of identity work as expected in various cultural contexts. Luyckx et al.’s (2008) identity model proposes five identity exploration and commitment processes, and a survey instrument was developed to assess these processes. The current study tests this Dimensions of Identity Development Scale (DIDS) in an indigenous population of emerging adults from Ladakh. Results confirm the central dimensions of identity exploration and commitment. However, the original DIDS structure was not identically replicated in this population, suggesting that identity models should be developed or adapted to the specific sociocultural context.


2020 ◽  
Vol 37 (5) ◽  
pp. 1653-1672
Author(s):  
Megan E. Cardwell ◽  
Jordan Soliz ◽  
Lisa J. Crockett ◽  
Gretchen L. Bergquist

Secure ethnic-racial identity (ERI) is tied to well-being, especially for minority individuals; however, there is still little consensus on the key processes and optimal outcomes of various multiethnic-racial (ME-R; i.e., individuals with parents from different ethnic-racial groups) identity development models. In this study, we examine the critical incidents in personal and social relationships that are central to ME-R identity development. Twenty-nine ME-R individuals provided retrospective accounts of incidents and conversations they self-perceived to be critical to their ERI development. Four major themes emerged: incidents and conversations surrounding intergroup contact, confrontation, heritage, and appearance were all recalled as critical to ME-R identity development. These findings highlight the importance of studying the ways that ERI is constituted through interaction with others. Implications and directions for future research are discussed.


2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (5) ◽  
pp. 333-343 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nina Palmeroni ◽  
Laurence Claes ◽  
Margaux Verschueren ◽  
Annabel Bogaerts ◽  
Tinne Buelens ◽  
...  

The process of identity formation can cause a considerable amount of distress leading to pathological forms of identity distress. The present study examined age trends in identity distress and associations with identity exploration and commitment in a sample of 2,286 Flemish adolescents and emerging adults (14–30 years, 55.7% females). Important and theoretically meaningful age trends in identity distress were uncovered. More specifically, identity distress demonstrated a curvilinear trend with the highest levels of distress occurring in emerging adulthood. Concerning the associations between identity distress and identity processes, we found differences among the age periods studied. Identity distress was especially positively related to exploration in breadth and negatively to commitment making in the late 20s, but less so in adolescence and the early 20s. In sum, these results provide important insights into identity distress throughout adolescence and emerging adulthood. Theoretical implications, limitations, and suggestions for future research are discussed.


2016 ◽  
Vol 43 (5) ◽  
pp. 435-450 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marisa G. Franco ◽  
Olivia L. Holmes

With individuals of mixed African heritage increasingly identifying as Biracial, it is important to determine whether Black people continue to perceive Biracial people as members of their community. The status of Biracial individuals within the Black community has implications for the political power of the Black community and also for Biracial individuals’ racial identity development and well-being. Thus, the purpose of this study was to create a psychometrically sound measure to assess the degree to which Black people accept Biracial people as members of the Black community: the Biracial Group Membership Scale. Factor analyses were conducted with 328 Black adults. Exploratory factor analysis revealed two factors: Rejection of Biracial People and Forced Black Identity. A confirmatory factor analysis provided support for the initial factor structure. The scale related to the Attitudes Toward Multiracial Children Scale, essentialism, and items assessing interactions with Biracial individuals. Limitations, suggestions for future research, and implications are discussed.


2016 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 382-403 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca Stone ◽  
Merry Morash ◽  
Marva Goodson ◽  
Sandi Smith ◽  
Jennifer Cobbina

The current study employs a prospective mixed-methods design to examine women parolees’ identities early in their supervision and the association of their identity development at that point to their record of subsequent arrests. Guided by narrative identity theory, we first conduct quantitative analysis of the relationship between redemption and contamination narratives and subsequent arrests. We then return to the qualitative interview data to search for additional explanatory themes that shed further light on women’s identity and desistance from crime. Results indicate that identity verification from parole officers and others increases women’s self-esteem and assists them in overcoming barriers to desistance.


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