Ego identity and intimacy status: Replication and extension.

Abstract

Previous research has supported Erikson's theoretical proposition that advanced identity formation is associated with greater interpersonal intimacy. However, some writers have criticized existing studies for using cross-sectional methods and/or male subjects exclusively. Therefore, 78 college undergraduates, 28 males and 50 females, were randomly selected as participants in a larger 1-year longitudinal project to assess the identity-intimacy relationship. The Marcia (1966) Ego-Identity Interview and the Orlofsky, Marcia, and Lesser (1973) Intimacy Interview were administered to measure subjects' statuses on the two psychosocial constructs. The longitudinal data in this study indicate that identity formation maintains a trend for time-lagged and concurrent associations with intimacy development. Furthermore, occupational identity for male subjects and religious identity for female subjects were the most salient factors that contributed to advanced intimacy status. The importance of sex differences is discussed in determining the specificity of the identity-intimacy relationship.