Characterizing the Self-System over Time in Adolescence: Internal Structure and Associations with Internalizing Symptoms
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The longitudinal effects among self and identity processes, and between these processes and internalizing symptoms, are not well understood. As a result, the present study was designed to ascertain the over-time effects among identity commitment, reconsideration of commitments, and self-concept clarity, as well as to map the interplay of these self and identity processes with anxiety and depressive symptoms in early adolescence. A sample of 923 Dutch adolescents (mean age 12.4 years at Time 1; 49.3% female) participated at each of five annual assessments. Multivariate growth curve and cross-lagged panel models indicated that the association between self-concept clarity and commitment was bidirectional, that reconsideration occurs based on problems or dissatisfaction with self-concept clarity and with identity commitments, and that self-concept clarity (but not commitment or reconsideration) temporally precedes depressive and anxiety symptoms. Results are discussed in terms of the structure of the self-system and its associations with internalizing symptoms.
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High anxiety-but not depression-predicted higher identity confusion one year later, with a small effect size.
“high anxiety—but not depression—predicted higher identity confusion one year later, with a small effect size”
From Identity Development and Social-Emotional Disorders During Adolescence and Emerging Adulthood: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (2022) · cites this paper as Schwartz et al., 2012
High identity synthesis predicted lower depressive symptoms in adolescents but had no such effect for anxiety disorder symptoms.
“high identity synthesis predicted lower depressive symptoms in adolescents but found no such effect for anxiety disorder symptoms”
From Identity Development and Social-Emotional Disorders During Adolescence and Emerging Adulthood: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (2022) · cites this paper as Schwartz et al., 2012
High depression-but not anxiety-predicted lower later identity synthesis in adolescents.
“high depression—but not anxiety—predicted lower later identity synthesis in adolescents”
From Identity Development and Social-Emotional Disorders During Adolescence and Emerging Adulthood: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (2022) · cites this paper as Schwartz et al., 2012
There was some evidence that depression, anxiety and eating disorder symptoms impact identity development, such that elevated symptoms were associated with identity development difficulties (low identity synthesis/high identity confusion) later in adolescence.
“There was some evidence that depression, anxiety and eating disorder symptoms impact identity development, such that elevated symptoms were associated with identity development difficulties (i.e., low identity synthesis/high identity confusion) later in adolescence (Hatano et al., 2020; Schwartz et al., 2012; van Doeselaar et al., 2018; Verschueren et al., 2018; Verschueren et al., 2021).”
From Identity Development and Social-Emotional Disorders During Adolescence and Emerging Adulthood: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (2022) · cites this paper as Schwartz et al., 2012
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References 105 · Cited by 105
- Authors
- Schwartz, S. J., Klimstra, T. A., Luyckx, K., Hale, W. W., & Meeus, W. H. J.
- Affiliations
- University of Miami (US)
- KU Leuven (BE)
- Utrecht University (NL)
- Corresponding author
- Schwartz, Seth J.
- Venue
- Journal of Youth and Adolescence
- Published
- 2012-03-09
- Volume
- 41
- Issue
- 9
- Pages
- 1208-1225
- ISSN
- 0047-2891 (ISSN-L)
- 1573-6601
- OpenAlex
- W2114090961
- Cited by
- 105
- References
- 105
- Citations by year
- 2026: 5 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 10 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 11 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 7 · 2017: 12 · 2016: 6 · 2015: 9 · 2014: 2 · 2013: 4 · 2012: 3
- FWCI
- 11.60
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- dspace.library.uu.nl
- Licence
- other-oa
- www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
- Locations
- Journal of Youth and Adolescence (publishedVersion)
- Research portal (Tilburg University) (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion)
- Utrecht University Repository (Utrecht University) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Identity, Memory, and Therapy
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Personality Traits and Psychology
- Keywords
- self-system, identity commitment, self-concept clarity, internalizing problems, anxiety symptoms, depressive symptoms, early adolescence, identity processes, bidirectional relationship, self-concept
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adolescent Behavior, Psychology, Adolescent, Cross-Sectional Studies, Female, Humans, Internal-External Control, Male, Netherlands, Surveys and Questionnaires, Self Concept, Sex Factors, Social Identification, Social Support, Adolescent Development
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