Identity in Emerging Adulthood

TLDR

The article reviews identity status‑based theory and research in adolescents and emerging adults, including narrative identity and identity style approaches. It surveys Erikson’s theory, early status research, two contemporary dynamic models, domain‑specific studies, and the mental and physical health correlates of identity processes. The review ends with recommendations for future research on adolescent and emerging adult identity.

Abstract

The present article presents a review of identity status-based theory and research with adolescents and emerging adults, with some coverage of related approaches such as narrative identity and identity style. In the first section, we review Erikson’s theory of identity and early identity status research examining differences in personality and cognitive variables across statuses. We then review two contemporary identity models that extend identity status theory and explicitly frame identity development as a dynamic and iterative process. We also review work that has focused on specific domains of identity. The second section of the article discusses mental and physical health correlates of identity processes and statuses. The article concludes with recommendations for future identity research with adolescent and emerging adult populations.