Identity Development Processes in Emerging Adulthood: Accounting for Variations in Educational Context
Year: 2020
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Past research of emerging adults has yet to investigate the individual experiences and processes of identity development in emerging adults who are in the workforce or currently unemployed (Hendry & Kloep, 2007), predominately focusing on emerging adults attending universities. The current study expands the study of identity development in emerging adulthood to include varied educational contexts. The current study compared normative college students, first generation college students, technical college students and those who have never attended college, to evaluate potential group differences in identity exploration and the relationship between identity exploration and psychological adjustment. Emerging adults in college contexts engaged in more complex identity processing than those who never attended college. However, identity achievement was associated with positive outcomes in all groups. Further, it appears that the contexts under which identity processing occur may vary, though this remains a question for future research.
DOI: 10.25710/54jh-rm81
Author: Wood, Becky A.
Language: English
Subfield: Developmental and Educational Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
SDG: Reduced inequalities
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2527484753