On Merging Identity Theory and Stress Research
Abstract
In this paper I develop and discuss the concept of «identity-relevant stressors.» Identities refer to individuals' conceptions of themselves in terms of the social roles that they enact (e.g., spouse, parent, worker, churchgoer, friend). An identity-relevant experience is one that threatens or, alternatively, enhances an identity that the individual values highly; identity-irrelevant experiences occur in roles that the individual does not value highly. This concept can help solve a problem in the stress literature, namely the inability of stress theory to account parsimoniously for social status differences in psychological distress
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It is psychologically damaging when the role that is most important to the person is threatened.
“It is psychologically damaging when the role that is most important to the person is threatened [53] (e.g., violated from another domain)”
From Boundary violations and university teachers' well-being during mandatory telework: Recovery's role and gender differences (2024) · cites this paper as [53]
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- Authors
- Thoits, P. A.
- Corresponding author
- Thoits, Peggy A.
- ORCID
- Thoits, Peggy A.
- Venue
- Social Psychology Quarterly
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 1991-06
- Volume
- 54
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 101
- ISSN
- 0190-2725 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2321124770
- Cited by
- 918
- References
- 5
- Citations by year
- 2026: 19 · 2025: 23 · 2024: 24 · 2023: 34 · 2022: 41 · 2021: 44 · 2020: 44 · 2019: 45 · 2018: 35 · 2017: 32 · 2016: 35 · 2015: 41 · 2014: 39 · 2013: 36 · 2012: 44
- FWCI
- 32.52
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Social Psychology Quarterly (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Social Power and Status Dynamics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Identity, Memory, and Therapy
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Racial and Ethnic Identity Research
- Keywords
- identity theory, stress, social roles, psychological distress, social status differences, stress theory, identity threat
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