49 research outputs found
Developing into early adulthood: The role of identity and personality
No full textThe overall aim of this thesis was to investigate the development into early adulthood, focusing on identity and personality. The aim of Study I was to explore the developmental course and implications of the two meta-traits ego resiliency (i.e., individuals’ capacity to adjust to their environment) and ego control (i.e., level of impulse restraint) from childhood (age 2) to early adulthood (age 33), N = 139. In general, the rank-order stability of proximal waves was consistently high for ego resiliency and ego control. Latent growth curve models showed that ego resiliency displayed high mean-level stability over time. Ego control demonstrated greater change in childhood relative to adolescence and adulthood. Analyses with intercepts and slopes of ego resiliency and ego control as predictors of adult well-being revealed associations with well-being, but these were generally accounted for by the Big Five traits. This study shows that ego resiliency and ego control are fairly stable personality constructs from childhood to adulthood, and highlights their association with adult adaptation. The aim of Study II was to investigate identity development across early adulthood (ages 25, 29, and 33, N=118). Investigations of identity status revealed that fewer individuals were in the moratorium status (i.e., current exploration of identity) and more were in the identity achievement status (i.e., identity exploration before establishing commitments) in later years. At the individual level, stable identity statuses with established commitments were by far the most common patterns. Longitudinal qualitative analyses of identity interviews showed three processes of identity development within these stable patterns: approach to change, story integration, and participation in a broader life context. These results show how early adults maintain and evolve their identity within status stability. The aim of Study III was to use a cultural framework to understand how narratives of difficult experiences are told among early adults in Sweden (age 33, N = 116), and then to examine the relations between these narrative patterns and wellbeing. Employing an open-exploratory approach, four equally prevalent emotional sequences were found: redemptive sequencing, neutral/vague sequencing, combination of positive and negative sequencing, and negative sequencing. While no differences were found in the use of the first three emotional sequences for wellbeing, the negative sequencing was associated with poorer well-being. These results show that there are several ways to narrate difficult experiences in the Swedish context. In conclusion, this thesis illuminates the important role of personality and identity – two central aspects of the understanding of the self – in people’s psychological development and well-being
Perspectives on adult identity development
No full textIdentity development is an important psychosocial task not only in adolescence but also in adulthood since it provides the individual with a feeling of continuity between past, present and future (Erikson, 1968). This means that the identity continues to grow and develop in adulthood and that issues pertaining to the identity are important to adult development (Fadjukoff & Kroger, 2016). Identity issues can be examined in many ways and this roundtable discussion will address how to examine adult identity development from different perspectives and what can be gained by examining adult identity in this way. Four researchers in a roundtable discussion format will describe how their perspective on adult development focusing on identity and adult development. The panel will discuss three main questions: 1) how do you explore identity among adults? 2) why do you use this identity perspective on adult development?, and 3) what can your perspective on identity and tell us about adult development? The panel of this roundtable discussion consist of four researchers who explore adult identity from different perspectives. Fanny Gyberg (University of Gothenburg) conduct mixed methods research on how young adults configure their work and family identities to a workable whole. Gustaf Glavå (University of Gothenburg) studies the lifespan development of fathers’ involvement in their children’s life’s and its relation to identity-bearing factors. Caroline Järdmo (University of Gothenburg) studies the importance of close relations for the identity of young adults. Ylva Svensson (University West) explores ethnic identity development of young adults from different backgrounds, mainly by analyzing written narratives and mixed methods. Py Liv Eriksson conduct research on challenging experiences and their impact on adult identity development
Methodological and Theoretical Challenges in Studying Continuity and Change using a Narrative Approach
No full textIdentity and personality development with a focus on early adulthood [Elektronisk resurs]
No full textThe overall aim of this thesis was to investigate identity and personality development with a focus on early adulthood. The aim of Study I was to investigate identity development across early adulthood at three measurement points, ages 25, 29 and 33 (N=118). A sequential mixed-methods design was used, and the data analysis was thus performed in different steps. First, quantitative investigations of stability and change in identity status revealed some group-level changes over time, with fewer individuals in the moratorium status (i.e., current exploration of identity) and more individuals in the identity achievement status (i.e., identity exploration before establishing commitments). However, typical and atypical patterns of individual stability and change between adjacent waves showed that stability in identity status development with established commitments (i.e., identity achievement and foreclosure) across early adulthood were by far the most common patterns. In the second step, in order to understand the underlying processes of these stable patterns, the patterns were examined through qualitative analyses. In this part, the two dominant perspectives of identity development were combined: the identity status model and the narrative approach. Qualitative analysis of the narratives from the status interviews of each participant’s development from age 29 to 33 revealed three processes of identity development: Approach to Change, Narrative Coherence, and Participation in a Broader Life Context. This study demonstrated that there are significant changes within stable identity status patterns, and that identity development in early adulthood requires individuals to reflect, adjust, and evolve their identity. The aim of Study II was to explore the developmental course and implications of ego resiliency and control from childhood (starting at age 2) to early adulthood (age 33). The sample consisted of 139 participants, who were assessed nine times between ages 2 and 33. The developmental course and implications of the personality meta-traits ego resiliency (i.e., the individuals’ capacity to adjust to their environment) and ego control (i.e., level of impulse restraint) were examined. In general, the rank-order stability of proximal waves was consistently high for ego resiliency and ego control. Further, latent growth curve models were used to examine mean-level stability and change in ego resiliency and control. These analyses showed that ego resiliency displayed high stability over time. Ego control demonstrated stability over the full time span, but there was greater change in childhood relative to adolescence and adulthood. Analyses with intercepts and slopes of ego resiliency and ego control as predictors of adult well-being at age 33 showed associations with well-being, but these associations were generally accounted for by the Big Five traits. Finally, ego resiliency and control in childhood and adolescence were, albeit to a lesser extent, associated with adult identity development with regard to commitments and ego resiliency to previous exploration. This study shows that the meta-traits of ego resiliency and control are fairly stable personality constructs from childhood to adulthood and also highlights their association with adult adaptation, which also suggests that personality traits may give an early indication of identity processes. In conclusion, this thesis shows how identity and personality – two central aspects of development – evolve over time, as well as how these aspects of development are related. The two studies of this thesis focus especially on the period of early adulthood, and demonstrate processes of how people maintain their identity and how earlier development can influence adaptation in early adulthood
Developing into early adulthood: The role of identity and personality
No full textThe overall aim of this thesis was to investigate the development into early adulthood, focusing on identity and personality. The aim of Study I was to explore the developmental course and implications of the two meta-traits ego resiliency (i.e., individuals’ capacity to adjust to their environment) and ego control (i.e., level of impulse restraint) from childhood (age 2) to early adulthood (age 33), N = 139. In general, the rank-order stability of proximal waves was consistently high for ego resiliency and ego control. Latent growth curve models showed that ego resiliency displayed high mean-level stability over time. Ego control demonstrated greater change in childhood relative to adolescence and adulthood. Analyses with intercepts and slopes of ego resiliency and ego control as predictors of adult well-being revealed associations with well-being, but these were generally accounted for by the Big Five traits. This study shows that ego resiliency and ego control are fairly stable personality constructs from childhood to adulthood, and highlights their association with adult adaptation. The aim of Study II was to investigate identity development across early adulthood (ages 25, 29, and 33, N=118). Investigations of identity status revealed that fewer individuals were in the moratorium status (i.e., current exploration of identity) and more were in the identity achievement status (i.e., identity exploration before establishing commitments) in later years. At the individual level, stable identity statuses with established commitments were by far the most common patterns. Longitudinal qualitative analyses of identity interviews showed three processes of identity development within these stable patterns: approach to change, story integration, and participation in a broader life context. These results show how early adults maintain and evolve their identity within status stability. The aim of Study III was to use a cultural framework to understand how narratives of difficult experiences are told among early adults in Sweden (age 33, N = 116), and then to examine the relations between these narrative patterns and well-being. Employing an open-exploratory approach, four equally prevalent emotional sequences were found: redemptive sequencing, neutral/vague sequencing, combination of positive and negative sequencing, and negative sequencing. While no differences were found in the use of the first three emotional sequences for well-being, the negative sequencing was associated with poorer well-being. These results show that there are several ways to narrate difficult experiences in the Swedish context. In conclusion, this thesis illuminates the important role of personality and identity – two central aspects of the understanding of the self – in people’s psychological development and well-being
Every Day has Enough of its Own Torment”—A Narrative Study of Life’s Greatest Challenge among Men in Late Adulthood
No full textThis project pages accompanies the manuscript: “Every Day has Enough of its Own Torment”—A Narrative Study of Life’s Greatest Challenge among Men in Late Adulthoo
Every Day has Enough of its Own Torment”—A Narrative Study of Life’s Greatest Challenge among Men in Late Adulthood
No full textThis project pages accompanies the manuscript: “Every Day has Enough of its Own Torment”—A Narrative Study of Life’s Greatest Challenge among Men in Late Adulthoo
Personality Development from Age 2 to 33: Stability and Change in Ego Resiliency and Ego Control and Associations with Adult Adaptation
No full textThis project pages accompanies the manuscript, "Personality Development from Age 2 to 33: Stability and Change in Ego Resiliency and Ego Control and Associations with Adult Adaptation
