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Sex differences in the identity formation of college students from divorced families

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Abstract

This study was desgined to examine gender differences in identity formation in late adolescents from divorced mother-custody families. Fifty-seven female and thirty-nine male college students ranging in age from 17 to 25 years completed the Child's Report of Parental Behavior [E. S. Schaeffer (1965) “Children's Reports of Parental Behavior: An Inventory,” Child Development, Vol. 36, pp. 412–482] and were interviewed using the J. E. Marcia [(1966) “Development and Validation of Ego Identity Status,” Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, Vol. 3, pp. 551–558] semistructured Identity Status Interview. While no differences between males and females were found in ratings of overall identity status, significantly more females were in the achieved category within the domains of occupation and attitudes toward premarital sex. Also, males perceived their mothers as significantly more accepting and less controlling than did females. The absence of the father and the altered role of the mother appear to have a differential impact on males and females who have grown up in mother-custody families. Implications of these and other findings are discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Student Development and Counseling, Baruch College, The City University of New York, 17 Lexington Avenue, Box F1702, 10010, New York, New York

    Patricia V. Imbimbo (Assistant Professor, Associate Director of Counseling)

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  1. Patricia V. Imbimbo
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Received Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Teachers College Columbia University. Research interests include adolescent identity formation, the intersection and integration of personal and career counseling, and career development.

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Imbimbo, P.V. Sex differences in the identity formation of college students from divorced families. J Youth Adolescence 24, 745–761 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01536955

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01536955

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