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

Author(s):  
Navneet Kaur ◽  
Kulwinder Singh

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.

Author(s):  
Jane Kroger

Psychoanalyst Erik Erikson was the first professional to describe and use the concept of ego identity in his writings on what constitutes healthy personality development for every individual over the course of the life span. Basic to Erikson’s view, as well as those of many later identity writers, is the understanding that identity enables one to move with purpose and direction in life, and with a sense of inner sameness and continuity over time and place. Erikson considered identity to be psychosocial in nature, formed by the intersection of individual biological and psychological capacities in combination with the opportunities and supports offered by one’s social context. Identity normally becomes a central issue of concern during adolescence, when decisions about future vocational, ideological, and relational issues need to be addressed; however, these key identity concerns often demand further reflection and revision during different phases of adult life as well. Identity, thus, is not something that one resolves once and for all at the end of adolescence, but rather identity may continue to evolve and change over the course of adult life too. Following Erikson’s initial writings, subsequent theorists have laid different emphases on the role of the individual and the role of society in the identity formation process. One very popular elaboration of Erikson’s own writings on identity that retains a psychosocial focus is the identity status model of James Marcia. While Erikson had described one’s identity resolution as lying somewhere on a continuum between identity achievement and role confusion (and optimally located nearer the achievement end of the spectrum), Marcia defined four very different means by which one may approach identity-defining decisions: identity achievement (commitment following exploration), moratorium (exploration in process), foreclosure (commitment without exploration), and diffusion (no commitment with little or no exploration). These four approaches (or identity statuses) have, over many decades, been the focus of over 1,000 theoretical and research studies that have examined identity status antecedents, behavioral consequences, associated personality characteristics, patterns of interpersonal relations, and developmental forms of movement over time. A further field of study has focused on the implications for intervention that each identity status holds. Current research seeks both to refine the identity statuses and explore their dimensions further through narrative analysis.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 59
Author(s):  
Rania Al Omari

The study aims to investigate the relationship between the academic achievement of computerized tests and traditional pen and paper exams of Business College students at the University of Jordan- Aqaba branch as well as relate differences results to students` gender. The study sample comprised 136 students of a compulsory course at the Business Faculty. A computerized mid-term test was held while the final one was traditional. The results of the two tests were compared where the other general factors affecting students` academic achievement, namely ( the same students, course subject, course subject lecturer) were set. The tests marks were sampled as percentage to the test mark so as to delete the denominator difference of marks where the mid-term mark is out of 30 while the final test is out of 50. The SPSS was used to compare the results of the two tests. Results were related to students gender, whether gender-related differences are found. The study concluded that there is no statistical significant relationship between the academic achievement of computerized tests and traditional ones (paper and pen) held at the Business College in The University of Jordan- Aqaba branch. The results also indicated that the academic achievement differences resulting from computerized tests have to do with the student gender variable in favour of male students.


Author(s):  
Orlando Lima Rua

The main goal of this article is the joint analysis of the dimensions of the entrepreneurial potential, students' entrepreneurial characteristics and gender of the Portuguese Polytechnic higher education students. For this purpose, we use a quantitative methodological approach, having applied a questionnaire to a sample of students enrolled in the entrepreneurship curricular unit of the School of Accounting and Administration (ISCAP), of the Polytechnic of Porto. Based on data collection from 227 undergraduate students in entrepreneurship from Portugal, the results allow us to conclude that personal desirability and students' entrepreneurial characteristics positively enhances the intention to start a business. On the other hand, perceived difficulties negatively enhances that intention. Finally, we've confirmed that the male students are more associated with intentions to start a business than female gender.


1994 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 227-238 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen K. Bliss ◽  
Cynthia L. Crown

The validity of the Concern for Appropriateness Scale (CAS) as a direct or indirect predictor of alcohol and marijuana use in college students was investigated in this study. Specifically, the study examined whether the CAS, by itself, predicted self-reported alcohol and marijuana and whether it interacted with gender and/or religiosity to predict alcohol and marijuana use. The Ss were 143 undergraduate students, and it was found that the CAS directly predicted marijuana use and also interacted with religiosity in the prediction of marijuana use. The results also indicated that the CAS did not directly predict alcohol use, but the CAS interacted with gender and religiosity in the prediction of alcohol use. The results are discussed in terms of their implications for validity of the CAS as an index of social anxiety.


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.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 4-23
Author(s):  
Esther C. Penzar ◽  
Munyi Shea ◽  
Cher N. Edwards

In the present study, the relationships among trait hope, academic self-efficacy, and academic achievement (self-reported GPA) were examined among college students. Demographic differences were analyzed based on college-going status, ethnicity, and gender. First-generation college-going students (FGCS) reported significantly lower levels of hope, academic self-efficacy, and academic achievement when compared to non-FGCS. Male students reported significantly lower academic self-efficacy compared to female students. There was no statistically significant difference between non-White and White students. Overall, academic self-efficacy was a stronger predictor of achievement than hope. Between the two subscales of trait hope, agency was more strongly correlated with academic achievement than pathways. Furthermore, a mediation analysis indicated that academic self-efficacy fully accounted for the relationship between agency and academic achievement, which suggests that perceived capacity and agency to perform tasks in a specific domain may be more strongly associated with academic achievement than a general sense of hope and motivation.


2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 11-18
Author(s):  
Amy Vandenberg ◽  
Jason J. Haen ◽  
Kathleen K. Molnar ◽  
Thomas W. De Berry ◽  
Joe W. Cotter

By controlling for size and existence of a religious affiliation and gender, this study adds to the literature regarding opinions of undergraduate business students about the ethical nature of both academic and business related actions. Analysis of student survey data from two institutions similar in these characteristics continues in this longitudinal study. After the data were separated by gender, ethical perceptions of male students significantly differed for business-related dishonest acts for those male students who had taken two or more courses in religion, but church service attendance did not seem to have any effect. This may suggest that taking more courses (or having more dialogs) in which moral issues beyond academics are discussed may affect male student perceptions of ethical issues outside the institution.


PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (8) ◽  
pp. e0255634
Author(s):  
B. Sue Graves ◽  
Michael E. Hall ◽  
Carolyn Dias-Karch ◽  
Michael H. Haischer ◽  
Christine Apter

Background Many college students register each semester for courses, leading to productive careers and fulfilled lives. During this time, the students have to manage many stressors stemming from academic, personal, and, sometimes, work lives. Students, who lack appropriate stress management skills, may find it difficult to balance these responsibilities. Objectives This study examined stress, coping mechanisms, and gender differences in undergraduate students towards the end of the semester. Design and method University students (n = 448) enrolled in three different undergraduate exercise science courses were assessed. Two instruments, the Perceived Stress Scale and Brief Cope, were administered during the twelfth week of the semester, four weeks prior to final exams. T-tests were used to detect gender differences for the stress levels and coping strategies. Results Overall, females indicated higher levels of stress than their male counterparts. Gender differences were evident in both coping dimensions and individual coping strategies used. Females were found to utilize the emotion-focused coping dimension and endorsed the use of four coping strategies more often than males. These included self-distraction, emotional support, instrumental support, and venting. Conclusions This research adds to the existing literature by illuminating the level of perceived stress and different coping strategies used by undergraduate female and male students. In turn, students may need educational interventions to develop effective and healthy coping strategies to last a lifetime. Faculty and other university officials may want to highlight and understand these various factors to protect the students’ wellbeing in their classes.


2018 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 289-299 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wim Meeus

Abstract. The developmental continuum of identity status has been a topic of theoretical debate since the early 1980’s. A recent meta-analysis and recent studies with dual cycle models lead to two conclusions: (1) during adolescence there is systematic identity maturation; (2) there are two continuums of identity status progression. Both continuums show that in general adolescents move from transient identity statuses to identity statuses that mark the relative endpoints of development: from diffusion to closure, and from searching moratorium and moratorium to closure and achievement. This pattern can be framed as development from identity formation to identity maintenance. In Identity Status Interview research using Marcia’s model, not the slightest indication for a continuum of identity development was found. This may be due to the small sample sizes of the various studies leading to small statistical power to detect differences in identity status transitions, as well as developmental inconsistencies in Marcia’s model. Findings from this review are interpreted in terms of life-span developmental psychology.


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