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Identity-Processing Style, Psychosocial Resources, and Adolescent' Perceptions of Parent-Adolescent Relations

NCJ Number
219599
Journal
Journal of Early Adolescence Volume: 27 Issue: 3 Dated: August 2007 Pages: 324-345
Author(s)
Michael D. Berzonsky; Susan J. T. Branje; Wim Meeus
Date Published
August 2007
Length
22 pages
Annotation
This study examined the relationships between parent-adolescent relations and identity-processing styles in a sample of early adolescents in the Netherlands.
Abstract
The results provided evidence for the links between parent-adolescent relations, identity style, and two psychosocial variables: identity commitment and self-regulation. Specifically, the findings indicated that adolescents with high diffuse-avoidance scores had low levels of identity commitment and self-regulation and they perceived their parents as being low in trust, openness, and supervision. Other results revealed that a normative identity style was associated with positive parent-adolescent relations. On the other hand, low levels of parental tracking, communication, and disclosure were associated with a diffuse-avoidant identity style, which has been linked to an increased risk for a variety of problem behaviors, including depression, neuroticism, eating disorders, conduct disorders, and work- and alcohol-related problems. The results thus support the view that parent-adolescent relations contribute to differences in adolescent identity style. Future research should attempt to replicate the findings of this study using different sources of data. Participants were 323 families who were drawn from the family sample of a longitudinal study called the Conflict and Management of Relationships study. A comparison sample of 638 early adolescents from two-parent families was also used for the analysis. Participants completed questionnaires at school and at home regarding identity style, self-regulation, identity commitment, and parent-adolescent relations. Data were analyzed using zero-order correlations and path analyses. Figures, tables, references