Subjects were part of the Children in the Community Study (Cohen and Cohen, 1996), a large epidemiological sample of children from two upstate New York counties. First recruited in 1975, the selected families had at least one child between 1 and 10 years old. The current study was based on youth and parent interviews conducted at Time 3 (1985-86) and Time 4 (1991-93). Drawing on Erikson's theory of psychosocial development, changes in adolescent well-being were measured as indicators of identity consolidation. Cluster B personality disorder symptoms (borderline, histrionic, and narcissistic symptoms) were viewed as indicative of "identity diffusion," which involves maladaptive personality traits that are usually resolved during the identity crisis of adolescence. The study used two age cohorts to determine interrelationships between Cluster B symptoms, well-being, and intimacy at mean ages 13.8 and 18.6, as well as associations between their developmental patterns over the next 6 years. As hypothesized, higher personality disorder symptoms were linked to lower levels of well-being during adolescence; and over time personality disorder symptoms were associated with corresponding gains in well-being. There was an inverse relationship between Cluster B symptoms and intimacy that increased in strength in early adulthood. This study did not address how and when adolescents resolve individual crises of identity or intimacy. It remains for future research to examine such turning points and how they may influence individual growth and development. 4 tables and 64 references