Top

Gepubliceerd in:

21-10-2023 | Empirical Research

Longitudinal Associations among Identity Processes and Mental Health in Young Adulthood: The Mediating Role of Social Support

Auteurs: Tracy K. Y. Wong, Chloe A. Hamza

Gepubliceerd in: Journal of Youth and Adolescence | Uitgave 4/2024

Abstract

Emerging adulthood (ages 18–25) is a period of identity exploration, particularly for young adults navigating the transition to post-secondary school. Little is known about how changes in identity exploration may be related to emerging adults’ mental health, or the role of social support plays in identity-related processes. In the present study, associations among identity exploration, internalizing symptoms, and perceived social support were examined. Participants included a diverse group of emerging adults (N = 1,125, Mage = 17.96 years) studying at a Canadian university. Random-intercept cross-lagged modeling demonstrated that within-person increases in exploration in breadth predicted fewer depressive symptoms over time, whereas within-person increases in exploration in depth predicted more depressive and anxious symptoms over time. A mediation effect from perceived support from significant other to depressive symptoms via exploration in breadth was also evident. Findings suggest that identity exploratory processes may be developmentally relevant in emerging adulthood, but their implications for mental health may differ. Perceived social support is also meaningfully related to identity exploration and mental health.

vorige artikel Individual and Community level Developmental Adversities: Associations with Marijuana and Alcohol Use in Late-Adolescents and Young Adults

volgende artikel Longitudinal Relations Among Parental Substance Use Disorder and Adolescent Drinking Behavior: The Role of Temperament, Negative Urgency, and Maternal Parenting

Alleen toegankelijk voor geautoriseerde gebruikers

Arnett, J. J. (2000). Emerging adulthood: a theory of development from the late teens through the twenties. American Psychologist, 55(5), 469–480. https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.55.5.469.CrossRefPubMed

Barry, C. M., Madsen, S. D., Nelson, L. J., Carroll, J. S., & Badger, S. (2009). Friendship and romantic relationship qualities in emerging adulthood: Differential associations with identity development and achieved adulthood criteria. Journal of Adult Development, 16, 209–222. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10804-009-9067-x.CrossRef

Becht, A. I., Bos, M. G., Nelemans, S. A., Peters, S., Vollebergh, W. A., Branje, S. J., & Crone, E. A. (2018). Goal‐directed correlates and neurobiological underpinnings of adolescent identity: a multimethod multisample longitudinal approach. Child Development, 89(3), 823–836. https://doi.org/10.1111/cdev.13048.CrossRefPubMed

Becht, A. I., Luyckx, K., Nelemans, S. A., Goossens, L., Branje, S. J. T., Vollebergh, W. A. M., & Meeus, W. H. J. (2019). Linking identity and depressive symptoms across adolescence: a multisample longitudinal study testing within-person effects. Developmental Psychology, 55(8), 1733–1742. https://doi.org/10.1037/dev0000742.CrossRefPubMed

Beyers, W., & Goossens, L. (2008). Dynamics of perceived parenting and identity formation in late adolescence. Journal of Adolescence, 31(2), 165–184. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adolescence.2007.04.003.CrossRefPubMed

Branje, S., De Moor, E. L., Spitzer, J., & Becht, A. I. (2021). Dynamics of identity development in adolescence: a decade in review. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 31(4), 908–927. https://doi.org/10.1111/jora.12678.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Byrne, B. M. (2013). Structural equation modeling with Mplus: Basic concepts, applications, and programming. Routledge.

Claes, L., Luyckx, K., & Bijttebier, P. (2014). Non-suicidal self-injury in adolescents: prevalence and associations with identity formation above and beyond depression. Personality and Individual Differences, 61, 101–104. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2013.12.019.CrossRef

Crocetti, E. (2018). Identity dynamics in adolescence: processes, antecedents, and consequences. European Journal of Developmental Psychology, 15(1), 11–23. https://doi.org/10.1080/17405629.2017.1405578.CrossRef

Crocetti, E., Albarello, F., Meeus, W., & Rubini, M. (2022). Identities: a developmental social-psychological perspective. European Review of Social Psychology, 1–41. https://doi.org/10.1080/10463283.2022.2104987

Crocetti, E., Branje, S., Rubini, M., Koot, H. M., & Meeus, W. (2017). Identity processes and parent–child and sibling relationships in adolescence: a five‐wave multi‐informant longitudinal study. Child Development, 88(1), 210–228. https://doi.org/10.1111/cdev.12547.

Crocetti, E., Luyckx, K., Scrignaro, M., & Sica, L. S. (2011). Identity formation in Italian emerging adults: a cluster-analytic approach and associations with psychosocial functioning. European Journal of Developmental Psychology, 8(5), 558–572. https://doi.org/10.1080/17405629.2011.576858.CrossRef

Crocetti, E., Schwartz, S., Fermani, A., Klimstra, T., & Meeus, W. H. J. (2012). A cross-national study of identity statuses in Dutch and Italian adolescents: status distributions and correlates. European Psychologist, 17, 171–181. https://doi.org/10.1027/1016-9040/a000076.CrossRef

Dawson, M. R., & Samek, D. R. (2022). Parent and peer social-emotional support as predictors of depressive symptoms in the transition into and out of college. Personality and Individual Differences, 192, 111588 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2022.111588.CrossRef

Diekman, A. B., Brown, E. R., Johnston, A. M., & Clark, E. K. (2010). Seeking congruity between goals and roles: a new look at why women opt out of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics careers. Psychological Science, 21(8), 1051–1057. https://doi.org/10.1177/0956797610377342.CrossRefPubMed

Durbin, C. E., & Hicks, B. M. (2014). Personality and psychopathology: a stagnant field in need of development. European Journal of Personality, 28(4), 362–386. https://doi.org/10.1002/per.1962.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Eagle, D. E., Hybels, C. F., & Proeschold-Bell, R. J. (2019). Perceived social support, received social support, and depression among clergy. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 36(7), 2055–2073. https://doi.org/10.1177/026540751877613.CrossRef

Eaton, W. W., Smith, C., Ybarra, M., Muntaner, C., & Tien, A. (2004). Center for epidemiologic studies depression (CES-D) Scale. In M. E. Maruish (Ed.), The use of psychological testing for treatment planning and outcomes assessment (3^rd ed., pp. 363–377). Lawrence Erlbaum. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-0753-5_300

Erikson E. H. (1950). Growth and crises of the “healthy personality”. In Senn M. J. E. (Ed.), Symposium on the healthy personality (pp. 91–146). Josiah Macy, Jr. Foundation.

Erikson, E. H. (1968) Youth, Identity and Crisis. Norton.

Galliher, R. V., McLean, K. C., & Syed, M. (2017). An integrated developmental model for studying identity content in context. Developmental Psychology, 53(11), 2011–2022. https://doi.org/10.1037/dev0000299.CrossRefPubMed

Gandhi, A., Luyckx, K., Baetens, I., Kiekens, G., Sleuwaegen, E., Berens, A., Maitra, S., & Claes, L. (2018). Age of onset of non-suicidal self-injury in Dutch-speaking adolescents and emerging adults: an event history analysis of pooled data. Comprehensive Psychiatry, 80, 170–178. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.comppsych.2017.10.007.CrossRefPubMed

Hamaker, E. L., Kuiper, R. M., & Grasman, R. P. (2015). A critique of the cross-lagged panel model. Psychological Methods, 20(1), 102–116. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0038889.CrossRefPubMed

Hames, J. L., Hagan, C. R., & Joiner, T. E. (2013). Interpersonal processes in depression. Annual Review of Clinical Psychology, 9, 355–377. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-clinpsy-050212-185553.CrossRefPubMed

Hardy, S. A., Francis, S. W., Zamboanga, B. L., Kim, S. Y., Anderson, S. G., & Forthun, L. F. (2013). The roles of identity formation and moral identity in college student mental health, health‐risk behaviors, and psychological well‐being. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 69(4), 364–382. https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.21913.CrossRefPubMed

Hatano, K., Hihara, S., Sugimura, K., & Mizokami, S. (2022). Identity formation with gender differences in University students: a three-wave longitudinal study. Current Psychology, 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-022-04036-4.

Hatano, K., Sugimura, K., & Luyckx, K. (2020). Do identity processes and psychosocial problems intertwine with each other? Testing the directionality of between-and within-person associations. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 49(2), 467–478. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-019-01182-0.CrossRefPubMed

Hofer, J., Busch, H., & Kärtner, J. (2011). Self–regulation and well–being: the influence of identity and motives. European Journal of Personality, 25(3), 211–224. https://doi.org/10.1002/per.789.CrossRef

Kler, S., Arora, S., & Le, T. P. (2022). Validation of the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) among LGBTQ+ people of color. Measurement and Evaluation in Counseling and Development, 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1080/07481756.2022.2109174.

Klimstra, T. A., & Denissen, J. J. A. (2017). A theoretical framework for the associations between identity and psychopathology. Developmental Psychology, 53(11), 2052–2065. https://doi.org/10.1037/dev0000356.CrossRefPubMed

Leaper, C. (2015). Gender and social-cognitive development. In R. M. Lerner & M. E. Lamb (Eds.), Handbook of Child Psychology and Developmental Science: Vol. 2. Cognitive processes (7th ed., pp. 806–853). John Wiley & Sons.

Lee, C., Dickson, D. A., Conley, C. S., & Holmbeck, G. N. (2014). A closer look at self-esteem, perceived social support, and coping strategy: a prospective study of depressive symptomatology across the transition to college. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 33(6), 560–585. https://doi.org/10.1521/jscp.2014.33.6.560.CrossRef

Luyckx, K., Klimstra, T. A., Duriez, B., Van Petegem, S., & Beyers, W. (2013). Personal identity processes from adolescence through the late 20s: Age trends, functionality, and depressive symptoms. Social Development, 22(4), 701–721. https://doi.org/10.1111/sode.12027.CrossRef

Luyckx, K., Schwartz, S. J., Berzonsky, M. D., Soenens, B., Vansteenkiste, M., Smits, I., & Goossens, L. (2008). Capturing ruminative exploration: extending the four-dimensional model of identity formation in late adolescence. Journal of Research in Personality, 42(1), 58–82. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrp.2007.04.004.CrossRef

Luyckx, K., Soenens, B., & Goossens, L. (2006). The personality-identity interplay in emerging adult women: convergent findings from complementary analyses. European Journal of Personality, 20, 195–215. https://doi.org/10.1002/per.579.CrossRef

Marcia, J. E. (1966). Development and validation of ego–identity status. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 3, 551–558. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0023281.CrossRefPubMed

Meca, A., Rodil, J. C., Paulson, J. F., Kelley, M., Schwartz, S. J., Unger, J. B., & Zamboanga, B. L. (2019). Examining the directionality between identity development and depressive symptoms among recently immigrated Hispanic adolescents. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 48(11), 2114–2124. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-019-01086-z.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Meeus, W. (1996). Studies on identity development in adolescence: an overview of research and some new data. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 25(5), 569–598. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01537355.CrossRef

Morea, A., & Calvete, E. (2021). Cognitive flexibility and selective attention’s associations with internalizing symptoms in adolescents: are they reciprocal? Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 50(5), 921–934. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-021-01402-6.CrossRefPubMed

Mulder, J. D., & Hamaker, E. L. (2021). Three extensions of the random intercept cross-lagged panel model. Structural Equation Modeling: A Multidisciplinary Journal, 28(4), 638–648. https://doi.org/10.1080/10705511.2020.1784738.MathSciNetCrossRef

Muthén, L., & Muthén, B. (1998-2022). Mplus (Version 8.5). Muthén & Muthén.

Needham, B. L. (2008). Reciprocal relationships between symptoms of depression and parental support during the transition from adolescence to young adulthood. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 37, 893–905. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-007-9181-7.CrossRef

Orth, U., Clark, D. A., Donnellan, M. B., & Robins, R. W. (2021). Testing prospective effects in longitudinal research: comparing seven competing cross-lagged models. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 120(4), 1013–1034. https://doi.org/10.1037/pspp0000358.CrossRefPubMed

Parker, G., & Brotchie, H. (2010). Gender differences in depression. International Review of Psychiatry, 22(5), 429–436. https://doi.org/10.3109/09540261.2010.492391.CrossRefPubMed

Pittman, J. F., Kerpelman, J. L., Soto, J. B., & Adler-Baeder, F. M. (2012). Identity exploration in the dating domain: the role of attachment dimensions and parenting practices. Journal of Adolescence, 35(6), 1485–1499. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adolescence.2012.04.006.CrossRefPubMed

Potterton, R., Austin, A., Robinson, L., Webb, H., Allen, K. L., & Schmidt, U. (2022). Identity development and social-emotional disorders during adolescence and emerging adulthood: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-021-01536-7.

Preacher, K. J., & Hayes, A. F. (2008). Asymptotic and resampling strategies for assessing and comparing indirect effects in multiple mediator models. Behavior Research Methods, 40(3), 879–891. https://doi.org/10.3758/BRM.40.3.879.CrossRefPubMed

Preacher, K. J., Zhang, Z., & Zyphur, M. J. (2011). Alternative methods for assessing mediation in multilevel data: the advantages of multilevel SEM. Structural Equation Modelling, 18, 161–182. https://doi.org/10.1080/10705511.2011.557329.MathSciNetCrossRef

Richman, S. B., Pond, Jr, R. S., Dewall, C. N., Kumashiro, M., Slotter, E. B., & Luchies, L. B. (2016). An unclear self leads to poor mental health: self-concept confusion mediates the association of loneliness with depression. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 35(7), 525–550. https://doi.org/10.1521/jscp.2016.35.7.525.CrossRef

Schiebener, J., García-Arias, M., García-Villamisar, D., Cabanyes-Truffino, J., & Brand, M. (2015). Developmental changes in decision making under risk: the role of executive functions and reasoning abilities in 8-to 19-year-old decision makers. Child Neuropsychology, 21(6), 759–778. https://doi.org/10.1080/09297049.2014.934216.CrossRefPubMed

Schmitt, D. P., Long, A. E., McPhearson, A., O’Brien, K., Remmert, B., & Shah, S. H. (2017). Personality and gender differences in global perspective. International Journal of Psychology, 52, 45–56. https://doi.org/10.1002/ijop.12265.CrossRefPubMed

Schwartz, S. J., Beyers, W., Luyckx, K., Soenens, B., Zamboanga, B. L., Forthun, L. F., & Waterman, A. S. (2011). Examining the light and dark sides of emerging adults’ identity: a study of identity status differences in positive and negative psychosocial functioning. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 40(7), 839–859. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-010-9606-6.CrossRefPubMed

Schwartz, S. J., Meca, A., Petrova, M. (2017). Who am I and why does it matter? Linking personal identity and self-concept clarity. In: Lodi-Smith, J., DeMarree, K. (eds). Self-concept clarity. Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-71547-6_8.

Schwartz, S. J., & Petrova, M. (2019). Prevention science in emerging adulthood: a field coming of age. Prevention Science, 20(3), 305–309. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11121-019-0975-0.CrossRefPubMed

Schwartz, S. J., Zamboanga, B. L., Luyckx, K., Meca, A., & Ritchie, R. A. (2013). Identity in emerging adulthood: reviewing the field and looking forward. Emerging adulthood, 1(2), 96–113. https://doi.org/10.1177/2167696813479781.CrossRef

Seligman, M. E. P., Steen, T. A., Park, N., Peterson, C., & Report, P. (2005). Positive psychology progress: empirical validation of interventions. American Psychologist, 60(5), 410–421. https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.60.5.410.CrossRefPubMed

Sheets, Jr., R. L., & Mohr, J. J. (2009). Perceived social support from friends and family and psychosocial functioning in bisexual young adult college students. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 56(1), 152–163. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-0167.56.1.152.CrossRef

Spitzer, R. L., Kroenke, K., Williams, J. B., & Löwe, B. (2006). A brief measure for assessing generalized anxiety disorder: the GAD-7. Archives of Internal Medicine, 166(10), 1092–1097. https://doi.org/10.1001/archinte.166.10.1092.CrossRefPubMed

Sriken, J., Johnsen, S. T., Smith, H., Sherman, M. F., & Erford, B. T. (2022). Testing the factorial validity and measurement invariance of college student scores on the Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) Scale across gender and race. Measurement and Evaluation in Counseling and Development, 55(1), 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1080/07481756.2021.1902239.CrossRef

Statistics Canada (2021). Census profile, 2021 census of population. https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/index.cfm?Lang=E.

Stice, E., Ragan, J., & Randall, P. (2004). Prospective relations between social support and depression: differential direction of effects for parent and peer support. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 113(1), 155–159. https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-843X.113.1.155.CrossRefPubMed

Van Dam, N. T., & Earleywine, M. (2011). Validation of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale—Revised (CESD-R): Pragmatic depression assessment in the general population. Psychiatry Research, 186(1), 128–132. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2010.08.018.CrossRefPubMed

van Doeselaar, L., Becht, A. I., Klimstra, T. A., & Meeus, W. H. (2018). A review and integration of three key components of identity development. European Psychologist, 23, 278–288. https://doi.org/10.1027/1016-9040/a000334.CrossRef

van Doeselaar, L., Meeus, W., Koot, H. M., & Branje, S. (2016). The role of best friends in educational identity formation in adolescence. Journal of Adolescence, 47, 28–37. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adolescence.2015.12.002.CrossRefPubMed

Vosylis, R., Erentaitė, R., & Crocetti, E. (2018). Global versus domain-specific identity processes: which domains are more relevant for emerging adults. Emerging Adulthood, 6(1), 32–41. https://doi.org/10.1177/2167696817694698.CrossRef

Wang, J., Mann, F., Lloyd-Evans, B., Ma, R., & Johnson, S. (2018). Associations between loneliness and perceived social support and outcomes of mental health problems: a systematic review. BMC Psychiatry, 18(1), 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-018-1736-5.CrossRef

Waterman, A. S. (1993). Two conceptions of happiness: contrasts of personal expressiveness (eudaimonia) and hedonic enjoyment. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 64(4), 678–691. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.64.4.678.CrossRef

Waterman, A. S. (2007). Doing well: the relationship of identity status to three conceptions of well-being. Identity, 7, 289–307. https://doi.org/10.1080/15283480701600769.CrossRef

Werner-Seidler, A., Afzali, M. H., Chapman, C., Sunderland, M., & Slade, T. (2017). The relationship between social support networks and depression in the 2007 National Survey of Mental Health and Well-being. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 52, 1463–1473. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-017-1440-7.CrossRefPubMed

Whitcomb, S. (2012). Behavioral, social, and emotional assessment of children and adolescents (4th ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203818596.

Xiang, G., Li, Q., Du, X., Liu, X., Xiao, M., & Chen, H. (2020). Links between family cohesion and subjective well-being in adolescents and early adults: The mediating role of self-concept clarity and hope. Current Psychology, 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-020-00795-0.

Zimet, G. D., Dahlem, N. W., Zimet, S. G., & Farley, G. K. (1988). The multidimensional scale of perceived social support. Journal of Personality Assessment, 52(1), 30–41. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327752jpa5201_2.CrossRef

Titel: Longitudinal Associations among Identity Processes and Mental Health in Young Adulthood: The Mediating Role of Social Support
Auteurs: Tracy K. Y. Wong
Chloe A. Hamza
Publicatiedatum: 21-10-2023
Uitgeverij: Springer US
Gepubliceerd in: Journal of Youth and Adolescence / Uitgave 4/2024
Print ISSN: 0047-2891
Elektronisch ISSN: 1573-6601
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-023-01883-7

Bohn Stafleu van Loghum

Deel dit onderdeel of sectie (kopieer de link)

Abstract

Log in om toegang te krijgen

Andere artikelen Uitgave 4/2024

Identity Matters for Well-Being: The Longitudinal Associations Between Identity Processes and Well-Being in Adolescents with Different Cultural Backgrounds

Developmental Trajectories in Mathematical Performance Among Chinese Adolescents: The Role of Multi-Dimensional Parental Involvement

Bidirectional Longitudinal Associations between Parental Psychological Control and Peer Victimization among Chinese Adolescents: The Mediating Role of Basic Psychological Need Satisfaction

The Role of Self-Esteem in Protecting Against Cyber-Victimization and Gaming Disorder Symptoms Among Adolescents: A Temporal Dynamics Analysis

Social Media Posts from Friends during Late Adolescence as Predictors of Young Adult Physical Health

What Fosters School Connectedness? The Roles of Classroom Interactions and Parental Support