The DOI matches its Crossref record; 54 of the 54 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Identity and Agency in Emerging Adulthood: Two Developmental Routes in the Individualization Process
Abstract
The study of emerging adulthood—the prolonged transition to adulthood extending into the 20s—is a rapidly growing area of research. Although identity issues are prominent during this period, the role of personal agency and individualization in the identity formation process during these years is not well understood. This study examines three psychological aspects of identity formation (style, status, and process) in relation to personal agency associated with the individualization process. Structural equation modeling analyses suggest that higher levels of agency are positively related to exploration and flexible commitment, unrelated to conformity, and negatively related to avoidance. Cluster analysis was used to examine and support a theorized polarity between developmental and default forms of individualization. Replicated across three U.S. ethnic groups, the results suggest that emerging adults utilize agentic capacities to varying degrees, and that the degree of agency utilized is directly related to the coherence of the emerging adult's identity.
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Metadata
- Authors
- Schwartz, S. J., Côté, J. E., & Arnett, J. J.
- Affiliations
- University of Miami (US)
- Western University (CA)
- University of Maryland, College Park (US)
- Venue
- Youth & Society
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2005-12
- Volume
- 37
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 201-229
- ISSN
- 0044-118X (ISSN-L)
- 1552-8499
- OpenAlex
- W2166065160
- Cited by
- 799
- References
- 53
- Citations by year
- 2026: 35 · 2025: 39 · 2024: 38 · 2023: 41 · 2022: 40 · 2021: 41 · 2020: 43 · 2019: 56 · 2018: 50 · 2017: 37 · 2016: 58 · 2015: 63 · 2014: 41 · 2013: 47 · 2012: 40
- FWCI
- 19.00
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Youth & Society (publishedVersion)
- Clark Digital Commons (Clark University) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Identity, Memory, and Therapy
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Youth Education and Societal Dynamics
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Racial and Ethnic Identity Research
- Keywords
- emerging adulthood, identity construction, individual agency, individualization, identity status, identity processes, identity styles, identity exploration, conformity, identity avoidance, identity coherence, ethnic differences
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