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.

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.

The relationships between self-esteem and Ego-identity development

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

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.

Analysis of the Relationship between Ego Identity Status and Personality Traits and General Self-Efficacy with Structural Equation Modeling

In this study, it is aimed to investigate the partial mediating effect of ego identity status and personality traits on general self-efficacy levels of physical education and sports teacher candidates. To do that, a model showing possible relationships between these variables was established and this model was tested by using structural equation modeling. The sample of the study consisted of 578 students in the freshmen, sophomore, junior, and senior years in the Physical Education Sports Teaching Departments of universities Erciyes, Mehmet Akif, Dumlupinar, and Ahi Evran. The Socio-Demographic Information Form created by the researchers, General Self-Efficacy Scale adapted to Turkish by Aypay (2010), Ego Identity Status Scale adapted by Oskay (1998), and Eysenck Personality Questionnaire adapted to Turkish by Karancı et al. (2007) were used as the data collection tools. SPSS 22 program and Structural Equation Modeling/AMOS/Path Diagram program were used for data analysis. Firstly, the measurement models were tested and the proposed measurement model proved to be able to use to test the structural model. The structural model proposed based on the validated measurement models were then tested and verified. The fit indices of the model established in the study were found to be good and the coefficients obtained were found to be statistically significant. According to the results obtained about the structural model, it was found that there was a significant relationship between the general self-efficacy with ego identity status and personality traits, and that the ego identity status and personality traits predict the general self-efficacy in an advanced level. As a result, it is thought that the general self-efficacy levels of the students will increase with the positive development of ego identity status and personality traits, and this increase will enable the students to increase their academic achievement and self-confidence, as well as will make them more active in the society.