Personal Identity Processes from Adolescence Through the Late 20s: Age Trends, Functionality, and Depressive Symptoms

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Academic track high school students scored lower on commitment making than technical/vocational track students.

“students in the academic track scored lower, as compared to students in the technical and vocational track, on commitment making”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S1 (asserted), S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based). The quote only partly states this claim.

Exploration in depth increased linearly with age from adolescence through the late twenties.

“exploration in depth (β = .12,p < .001;ΔR² = .014)”

• Also stated in: § Age Trends in Identity Processes · hedged

  “coupled with small linear increases for exploration in depth”

• AssumptionRests on an assumption: Cross-sectional age differences in identity processes reflect developmental change over time.

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Academic track high school students scored higher on exploration in depth than technical/vocational track students.

“and higher on exploration in depth (M = 3.23, SD = 0.76; and M = 3.14, SD = 0.79, respectively)”

May combine two claims.

Effect sizes for sex, context, and track differences in identity processes were small.

“all partial η²-values accompanying these mean differences were very small.”

• Also stated in: § Preliminary Mean-Level Analyses on Identity Processes · plain

  “all effect sizes accompanying these mean differences were small.”

• Also stated in: § Preliminary Mean-Level Analyses on Identity Processes · plain

  “all partial η²-values accompanying these mean differences were ≤ .01.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Academic track high school students scored higher on ruminative exploration than technical/vocational track students.

“and ruminative exploration (M = 2.82, SD = 0.83; and M = 2.66, SD = 0.88, respectively)”

May combine two claims.

Exploration in depth was most strongly related to commitment processes in adolescence and least strongly in the late twenties.

“exploration in depth was the most strongly related to the commitment processes in adolescence and the least strongly so in the late twenties.”

• AssumptionRests on an assumption: Cross-sectional age differences in identity processes reflect developmental change over time.

May combine two claims.

In adolescence and somewhat less in emerging adulthood, exploration in breadth and exploration in depth were strongly and positively related to commitment, and these positive correlations decreased significantly in strength in the late twenties.

“Indeed, whereas especially in adolescence and somewhat less in emerging adulthood these two exploration processes were strongly and positively related to commitment, these positive correlations decreased significantly in strength in the late twenties.”

May combine two claims.

The making of identity commitments was not strongly negatively related to depressive symptoms in adolescence, but this association was significantly stronger in emerging adulthood and beyond.

“Whereas the making of identity commitments was not that strongly negatively related to depressive symptoms in adolescence, this association was significantly stronger in emerging adulthood and beyond.”

May combine two claims.

Students in vocational and technical tracks score higher on commitment making and lower on exploration as compared to students in the academic track.

“Finally, the present findings seemed to suggest that students in the vocational and technical tracks (which directly prepare adolescents for certain jobs or careers) score higher on commitment making and lower on exploration as compared to students in the academic track (which consists of a general, broad education, preparing students for higher education).”

May combine two claims.

Cronbach's alphas for the identity processes ranged between .83 and .93 for commitment making, .79 and .89 for identification with commitment, .76 and .87 for exploration in breadth, .75 and .83 for exploration in depth, and .80 and .89 for ruminative exploration.

“Cronbach's alphas ranged between .83 and .93 for commitment making, .79 and .89for identification with commitment, .76 and .87 for exploration in breadth, .75 and .83for exploration in depth, and between .80 and .89for ruminative exploration.”

Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

Identity formation is a core developmental challenge for adolescents and emerging adults.

“Identity formation is a core developmental challenge for adolescents and emerging adults (Erikson, 1968).”

• cites Erikson, 1968Not checked yet

  Not checked in the free run.

May combine two claims.

Exploration in breadth and exploration in depth became increasingly associated with ruminative exploration and depressive symptoms in the late twenties.

“Exploration in breadth and exploration in depth were strongly related to commitment processes especially in adolescence and emerging adulthood, but these exploration processes became increasingly associated with ruminative exploration and depressive symptoms in the late twenties.”

• AssumptionRests on an assumption: Cross-sectional age differences in identity processes reflect developmental change over time.

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

Cronbach's alpha of CESD-20 in Sample 8 was .91, and Cronbach's alphas of CESD-12 ranged between .80 and .88.

“Cronbach's alpha of CESD-20 in Sample 8 was .91;Cronbach's alphas of CESD-12 ranged between .80 and .88.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Côté and Levine (2002) described a subgroup of individuals in the moratorium status who are driven by excessively high standards and criteria for functioning, which undermine their ability to form a steady set of commitments.

“Côté and Levine (2002) have described a subgroup of individuals in the moratorium status who are driven by excessively high standards and criteria for functioning, which undermine their ability to form a steady set of commitments.”

• cites Côté and Levine (2002)Not checked yet

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Emerging adulthood, especially ages 18-25, is the period of life that offers the most opportunities for identity exploration in different life areas.

“According to Arnett (2000), emerging adulthood (and especially ages 18-25) is the period of life that offers the most opportunities for identity exploration in different life areas (Waterman & Archer, 1990).”

• cites Arnett, 2000Not checked yet

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• cites Waterman & Archer, 1990Not checked yet

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May combine two claims.

The DIDS provides highly reliable scores with a clear factor structure in Belgian high school and college student samples.

“the Dimensions of Identity Development Scale (DIDS), which was originally developed in Dutch and provides highly reliable scores with a clear factor structure in Belgian high school and college student samples (Luyckx, Schwartz, Berzonsky, et al., 2008).”

• cites Luyckx, Schwartz, Berzonsky, et al., 2008Not checked yet

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May combine two claims.

The making of identity commitments becomes an increasingly normative process with greater repercussions for daily functioning as adolescents make the transition to adulthood.

“These findings corroborate the view that the making of identity commitments becomes an increasingly normative process with greater repercussions for daily functioning as adolescents make the transition to adulthood.”

May combine two claims.

Identity commitments tend to become more important for one's well-being from emerging adulthood to the late twenties, as evidenced by increased associations with depressive symptoms.

“Our findings not only suggested that identity commitments become increasingly more integrated in the self, these identity commitments also tend to become more important for one's well-being, as evidenced by the increased associations with depressive symptoms from emerging adulthood to the late twenties.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

The present study remains fairly descriptive and does not provide insights into how the observed age trends came about.

“Further, the present study remains fairly descriptive and does not provide insights into how the observed age trends came about.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

These individuals seem to be locked in a vicious cycle of continued exploration, contributing to feelings of hopelessness and uncontrollability.

“These individuals seem to be locked in a vicious cycle of continued exploration, contributing to feelings of hopelessness and uncontrollability.”

May combine two claims.

Ruminative exploration has been positively and strongly related to depressive symptoms, whereas the association of depressive symptoms with exploration in breadth and exploration in depth was less pronounced in adolescents.

“ruminative exploration has been positively and strongly related to depressive symptoms, whereas the association of depressive symptoms with exploration in breadth and exploration in depth was less pronounced in adolescents.”

• cites Luyckx, Schwartz, Goossens, Beyers, & Missotten, 2011Not checked yet

  Not checked in the free run.

May combine two claims.

Exploration processes in adolescence and emerging adulthood seem to serve an important goal of arriving at and evaluating identity commitments, but these processes seem to become less functional when sustained until the late twenties.

“In sum, whereas exploration processes in adolescence and emerging adulthood seem to serve an important goal, which is arriving at and evaluating identity commitments, these processes seem to become less functional when sustained until the late twenties.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

The conclusion that exploration processes become less functional when sustained until the late twenties is in line with Waterman and Archer's theorizing.

“This conclusion is in line with Waterman and Archer's (1990, p. 36) theorizing:”

• cites Waterman and Archer's (1990, p. 36)Not checked yet

  Not checked in the free run.

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).

The present study had a sufficient amount of males to draw valid conclusions with respect to potential sex differences.

“although the present study still had a sufficient amount of males to draw valid conclusions with respect to potential sex differences”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

This period in life is also characterized by a high degree of demographic instability and risk behaviors which can be considered symptomatic for extensive identity explorations of some individuals.

“Previous research indicated that this period in life is also characterized by a high degree of demographic instability and risk behaviors which can be considered symptomatic for extensive identity explorations of some individuals (Arnett, 2005).”

• cites Arnett, 2005Not checked yet

  Not checked in the free run.

Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

Through adolescence and emerging adulthood, the making of steady identity commitments becomes increasingly important for one's emotional adjustment.

“Meeus, Iedema, Maassen, and Engels (2005) already established that, through adolescence and emerging adulthood, the making of steady identity commitments becomes increasingly important for one's emotional adjustment”

• cites Meeus, Iedema, Maassen, and Engels (2005)Not checked yet

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May combine two claims.

Evidence was found for increased prevalence of the achievement status and decreased prevalence of the diffusion status over time.

“evidence was found for increased prevalence of the achievement status and decreased prevalence of the diffusion status over time (Meeus et al., 2010)”

• cites Meeus et al., 2010Not checked yet

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A more solid identity structure emerges as individuals make the transition to adult life, which increasingly enables them to attend to societal expectations and roles.

“Hence, a more solid identity structure emerges as individuals make the transition to adult life (Meeus, Iedema, Helsen, & Vollebergh, 1999), which increasingly enables them to attend to societal expectations and roles.”

• cites Meeus, Iedema, Helsen, & Vollebergh, 1999Not checked yet

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May combine two claims.

Virtually all participants were from European-Caucasian descent, which limits the generalizability of the present findings.

“Second, virtually all of our participants were from European-Caucasian descent, which limits the generalizability of the present findings.”

May combine two claims.

Although exploration is at its peak in emerging adult years, it is not limited to this period in life.

“Hence, although exploration is at its peak in the emerging adult years, it is not limited to this period in life (Meeus et al., 1999).”

• cites Meeus et al., 1999Not checked yet

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In emerging adulthood, especially commitment making increased linearly, whereas identification with commitment tended to decrease initially, although these decreases levelled off towards the end of the study.

“Luyckx, Schwartz, Goossens, Soenens, and Beyers (2008) found that in emerging adulthood especially commitment making increased linearly, whereas identification with commitment tended to decrease initially, although these decreases levelled off towards the end of their study.”

• cites Luyckx, Schwartz, Goossens, Soenens, and Beyers (2008)Not checked yet

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Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

The present study's sole reliance on self-reported depressive symptoms as an outcome variable is a limitation.

“Similarly, an additional limitation of the present study is its sole reliance on self-reported depressive symptoms as an outcome variable.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

The validity of the conclusions that can be drawn based on the present findings is limited to the identity processes and domain assessed.

“Third, the validity of the conclusions that can be drawn based on the present findings is limited to the identity processes and domain assessed.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Exploration in breadth showed initial increases followed by later decreases.

“exploration in breadth showed initial increases followed by later decreases”

• cites Luyckx, Schwartz, Goossens, Soenens, and Beyers (2008)Not checked yet

  Not checked in the free run.

May combine two claims.

Commitment making and especially identification with commitment have been negatively related to depressive symptoms.

“Commitment making and especially identification with commitment have been negatively related to depressive symptoms.”

• cites Luyckx, Schwartz, Goossens, Beyers, & Missotten, 2011Not checked yet

  Not checked in the free run.

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

Adolescent girls tend to be further ahead of boys in establishing identity commitments, although boys catch up later.

“Previous research suggested that adolescent girls tend to be further ahead of boys when it comes to establishing identity commitments, although boys do seem to catch up later on (Meeus et al., 2010).”

• cites Meeus et al., 2010Not checked yet

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May combine two claims.

The prevalence of the moratorium status tended to increase steadily from midadolescence to the late teens but decreased thereafter.

“the prevalence of the moratorium status tended to increase steadily from midadolescence to the late teens but decreased thereafter.”

• cites Kroger, Martinussen, & Marcia, 2010Not checked yet

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Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

The cross-sectional design of the present study limited the validity of the conclusions that could be drawn.

“First, as noted, the cross-sectional design of the present study limited the validity of the conclusions that could be drawn.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

These findings do not come as a surprise given that, especially in the vocational track, students already have a rather clear view on their future job, whereas this is much less the case for students in the academic track.

“These findings do not come as a surprise given that, especially in the vocational track, students already have a rather clear view on their future job, whereas this is much less the case for students in the academic track.”

May combine two claims.

With increasing maturation, identity commitments occupy a more prominent place in one's self-definition, both in strength of choices and centrality towards psychosocial functioning.

“Collectively, these findings suggest that with increasing maturation identity commitments occupy a more prominent place in one's self-definition (Waterman & Archer, 1990), not only with respect to the strength of the choices made, but also with respect to their centrality towards psychosocial functioning.”

• cites Waterman & Archer, 1990Not checked yet

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A recent longitudinal study found that commitment processes appeared to be a stronger predictor of self-esteem over time for college students as compared to high school students.

“A recent longitudinal study found that commitment processes appeared to be a stronger predictor of self-esteem over time for college students as compared to high school students (Luyckx et al., in press), again indicating that the developmental period under study could partially determine how functional or adaptive certain identity processes may be.”

• cites Luyckx et al., in pressNot checked yet

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Identity status trajectories obtained in young adulthood (i.e., in the thirties) were quite similar to those obtained in emerging adulthood.

“Only recently has it been demonstrated that, generally speaking, identity status trajectories obtained in young adulthood (i.e., in the thirties) were quite similar to those obtained in emerging adulthood (Luyckx, Klimstra, Schwartz, & Duriez, in press).”

• cites Luyckx, Klimstra, Schwartz, & Duriez, in pressNot checked yet

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Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

Individuals do not only have to make so-called personal identity choices across a wide variety of domains, they also develop personal and social identities in close interaction with the social world.

“Individuals do not only have to make so-called personal identity choices across a wide variety of domains, they also develop personal and social identities in close interaction with the social world (Schwartz, Luyckx, & Vignoles, 2011).”

• cites Schwartz, Luyckx, & Vignoles, 2011Not checked yet

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Identity formation has been cast as a lifelong developmental task characterized by continuous changes and re-evaluations over the adult life span.

“Identity formation has been cast as a lifelong developmental task characterized by continuous changes and re-evaluations over the adult life span (Kroger, 2000).”

• cites Kroger, 2000Not checked yet

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Arnett's (2000) approach applies primarily to those individuals who have the economic wherewithal to postpone adult responsibilities.

“Relatedly, it is important to note that, despite the sociocultural changes that have created the emerging adult life stage, Arnett's (2000) approach applies primarily to those individuals who have the economic wherewithal to postpone adult responsibilities.”

• cites Arnett's (2000)Not checked yet

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Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

Although the transition to adulthood constitutes a period of life in which future-related choices become very salient, it is by no means the only identity challenge these individuals are confronted with.

“Although the transition to adulthood constitutes a period of life in which future-related choices become very salient, it is by no means the only identity challenge these individuals are confronted with (Erikson, 1968).”

• cites Erikson, 1968Not checked yet

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