Work

Adolescent Family Context and Adult Identity Formation

Year: 2009

Type: article

Abstract: This study examines the links between adolescent family context and coming to see oneself as an adult. Using data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, we investigate how adolescent family structure, resources, and processes together influence adult identity and whether they do so similarly for men and women. We find that youth in single- or step-parent families, but not in two parent adoptive families, are more likely to identify as adults compared to those in two biological parent families. These relationships, however, are mediated by both family resources and processes. We also find that one of these processes, parental control, is especially influential for youth in single-father and "other" family structures, and that parent-adolescent relationship quality and living in "other" structure families are more consequential for young women than men.

Source: Journal of Family Issues

DOI: 10.1177/0192513x09332967

Authors: Janel E. Benson, Monica Kirkpatrick Johnson

Institutions: Colgate University, Washington State University

Language: English

Topic: Family Dynamics and Relationships

Subfield: Demography

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

Open Access status: green

Funders: National Institutes of Health, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development

Awards: Carolina Population Center, G1789099407, The National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health