Linking Identity and Depressive Symptoms across Adolescence: A Multisample Longitudinal Study Testing Within-Person Effects

This multisample longitudinal study examined the directionality of effects between identity exploration and commitment processes and depressive symptoms across adolescence. We compared two theoretical perspectives. According to the vulnerability model, identity uncertainty predicts depressive sympto...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published inDevelopmental psychology Vol. 55; no. 8; pp. 1733 - 1742
Main Authors Becht, Andrik I, Luyckx, Koen, Nelemans, Stefanie A, Goossens, Luc, Branje, Susan J. T, Vollebergh, Wilma A. M, Meeus, Wim H. J
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States American Psychological Association 01.08.2019
Subjects
Adolescent
Adolescent Attitudes
Adolescent Development
Adolescents
Depression (Psychology)
Female
Foreign Countries
Humans
Identification (Psychology)
Longitudinal Studies
Male
Models, Psychological
Netherlands
Self Concept
Social Identification
Symptoms (Individual Disorders)
Testing
Uncertainty
Netherlands
Online AccessGet more information

Cover

More Information
Summary:This multisample longitudinal study examined the directionality of effects between identity exploration and commitment processes and depressive symptoms across adolescence. We compared two theoretical perspectives. According to the vulnerability model, identity uncertainty predicts depressive symptoms, whereas the scar model holds that depressive symptoms play into identity uncertainty. In investigating both models, we examined reciprocal within-person associations in Study 1 (N = 497, M[subscript age] Time 1 [T1] = 14.03 years, comprising five annual waves) and Study 2 (N = 1,022, M[subscript age] T1 = 15.80 years, comprising four annual waves). To this end, we applied the random-intercept cross-lagged panel model (RI-CLPM) in both studies. Results supported the vulnerability model across Studies 1 and 2. Specifically, within-person increasing reconsideration of commitment (Study 1) and ruminative exploration (Study 2) predicted a within-person increase in depressive symptoms 1 year later, but not vice versa. Commitment processes did not predict depressive symptoms at the within-person level. Our findings indicate that maladaptive exploration processes of identity formation play a particularly important role in the development of depressive symptoms at the within-person level.
ISSN:0012-1649
1939-0599
DOI:10.1037/dev0000742