Characterizing the self-system over time in adolescence: Internal structure and associations with internalizing symptoms
Schwartz,S.J. Klimstra,T.A. Luyckx,K. Hale,W.W. Meeus,W.H.J.
Schwartz,S.J.
Klimstra,T.A.
Luyckx,K.
Hale,W.W.
Meeus,W.H.J.
Abstract
The longitudinal effects among self and identity processes, and between these processes and internalizing symptoms, are not well understood. As a result, the present study was designed to ascertain the over-time effects among identity commitment, reconsideration of commitments, and self-concept clarity, as well as to map the interplay of these self and identity processes with anxiety and depressive symptoms in early adolescence. A sample of 923 Dutch adolescents (mean age 12.4 years at Time 1; 49.3% female) participated at each of five annual assessments. Multivariate growth curve and cross-lagged panel models indicated that the association between self-concept clarity and commitment was bidirectional, that reconsideration occurs based on problems or dissatisfaction with self-concept clarity and with identity commitments, and that self-concept clarity (but not commitment or reconsideration) temporally precedes depressive and anxiety symptoms. Results are discussed in terms of the structure of the self-system and its associations with internalizing symptoms. Keywords: Self-concept clarity Personal identity Depressive symptoms Anxiety symptoms
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2012
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Schwartz, S J, Klimstra, T A, Luyckx, K, Hale, W W & Meeus, W H J 2012, 'Characterizing the self-system over time in adolescence : Internal structure and associations with internalizing symptoms', Journal of Youth and Adolescence, vol. 41, no. 9, pp. 1208-1225. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-012-9751-1