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Identity Crisis Through
Adolescence
A Cross-Sectional and Comparative
Study of Adolescents
March 1, 2011
Professor Mayssah El Nayal
([email protected]) - Beirut Arab
University
Dr. Asma Al Attiyah ([email protected] ) - Qatar
University
Identity Crisis Through
Adolescence
A Cross-Sectional and Comparative Study of
Adolescents
Dr Mayssah El Nayal
Beirut Arab University
Dr. Asma Al Attiyah
Qatar University
Objectives
The main objectives of this study are:
a) to investigate the interaction between both
gender and adolescence stages factors on
identity crisis
b) to determine if there are differences between
male and female in identity crisis
c) to determine if there are differences between
adolescence stages in identity crisis
Themes
• The present study deals with two main
variables:
– Identity Crisis
– Adolescence
Identity Crisis
Psychosocial state or condition of disorientation
and role confusion occurring especially in
adolescents as a result of conflicting internal
and external experiences, pressures, and
expectations and often producing acute
anxiety
Adolescence
1. One of the most dynamic periods of human
development .
2. It is characterized by dramatic physical, cognitive,
social and emotional changes.
3. These changes, along with adolescents’ growing
independence, search for identity, concern with
appearance, need for peer acceptance, and active
lifestyle, can significantly affect their physical activity
behavior .
Stages of Adolescence
The period of adolescence is divided into three stages :
Early adolescence
Ages 11 to 14, includes pubertal and cognitive changes.
Middle adolescence
Ages 15 to 17, is a time of increased independence and experimentation.
Late adolescence
Ages 18 to 21, adolescents make important personal and vocational
decisions.
Erickson’s Age Stages of Identity Crisis
1. Trust vs. Mistrust – Infancy
2. Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt Toddlerhood
3. Initiative vs. Inferiority - School Age
4. Industry vs. Guilt - Preschoolers
5. Identity vs. Role Confusion - Adolescence
6. Intimacy vs. Isolation - Early Adulthood
7. Generativity vs. Stagnation - Middle Age
8. Integrity vs. Despair - Maturity
Stage 5
Identity vs. Role Confusion
 One’s identity evolves from intense searching
for and questioning the self.
 The answers to these questions result in the
formation of one's identity.
 If these questions can’t be answered, one
remains confused about who s/he is (Identity
Crisis)
James Marcia
Four Categories of Adolescence Identity
Based on interviews conducted with
adolescents, Marcia identified four categories
of adolescent statuses :
Identity achievement
Identity diffusion
Identity foreclosure
Moratorium
What is unique about the present
study?
a) This investigation sought to test identity crisis among
a sample of adolescents who are more vulnerable
than ever to psychological conflicts and disorders.
b) As a result of the transformation that is observed in
the Arab countries on the political, economic and
social level, adolescents are exposed to new values
which they might find difficulty to cope with or
adjust to, especially that they are in a state of
identifying their role in life.
c) The present study might provoke psychologists to
enrich the field of Psychology of Globalization, as
well as identity issues in the light of current
globalization variables .
Method
Participants
A sample of (662) male (n=300) and female
(n=362) Kuwaiti volunteer undergraduates
from different governmental schools and at
Qatar University took part in the study. The
sample presented two phases namely middle
and late adolescence.
The Scale
Identity crisis was assessed by the Arabic
version of The Extended Objective Measure
of Identity (EOMI) developed by Grotevant
and Adam (1984), revised by Benion & Adams
(1986), and translated into Arabic by Alattia &
El Nayal (2011).
The( EOMI), is a 28 item Likert scale
answered on a six point scale from “strongly
agree” to “strongly disagree”.
The scale is an attempt to measure the
presence or absence of identity crisis in both
- The Ideological Domain (occupation, politics,
philosophical worldviews)
and
- Interpersonal Domain (friendship, dating,
recreation, and sex role)
 The reliability of this scale has been extensively
reported in the literature. The validity of the
scale has been verified in various studies.
 El Nayal & Al Atteya ( 2011) reported internal
consistency coefficients (Cronbach’s alpha) with
Qatari men as (0.67) and women as (0.71)
(N=200) in middle adolescence and (0.78) for
men, (0.89) for women in late adolescence .
 Furthermore, criterion-related validity of the
Arabic version of the EOMI has been verified.
Discussion
1. Male had higher mean scores than female in
the Ideological identity which means that the
ideological tendencies that Qatari males
passes through has been exposed to a kind of
disintegration and ambiguities, in particular
in the fields of daily life, such as the religious,
political, educational and professional
identities
48
46
Middle
Adolescence
Late
Adolescence
1-Male
44
2-Female
‫ا‬
42
40
38
36
3/9/2011
Figure (1) Ideological Identity according to gender and adolescence stage
• Male had higher mean scores than female in
Interpersonal identity which means that the
interpersonal identity among male is exposed
to distortion and disintegration
• Gender differences need to be explored
further because these findings are
inconsistent
67
66
Middle
adolescence
Late Adolescence
65
Axis Title
64
63
Male
Female
62
61
60
59
58
57
Figure(2):Interpersonal identity according to gender and adolescence stage
3/9/2011
2- On the other hand, observing the differences
between the Middle Adolescence and Late
Adolescence stages, it is clear that the
adolescent in the Middle Adolescence stage
are more prone to ideological identity crises,
while adolescents in the Late Adolescence
stage are more prone to identity crises in
Interrelationships.
Thus we conclude that :
 The Formation of Identity is not a regular
process, but rather unstable.
 Some aspects of identity take shape early on
prior to other aspects.
 The process of forming identity may be
difficult or complicated for some individuals;
for example individuals belonging to an
ethnical minority.
Recommendations
1-The creation of a unified philosophy that aims
at defining our Arab identity, and that is free
of intolerance, sectarianism or minority.
2-Parents should ascertain the clarity of their
conception of their identity, which may assist
in adopting a consistent, stable and unified
approach, that reflects positively on their
children.
3-It is essential that the young are empowered
to comprehend the culture prevalent in their
societies, allowing them to discuss freely,
objectively and socially, the role of culture in
the formation of personality.
.4-To prepare professional psychologists and
sociologists, specializing in Adolescence to
work on providing the suitable measures to
support these targeted children
Recommendation
5-To establish an open and frank dialogue in the
light of the values, customs, traditions and
legislations, in addition to the decision-making
process, which has a significant role in the
cognitive and mental stability of the
adolescent.
6 To revise the methods by which the
implementation of the findings and results of
studies is carried out in practice, to serve the
adolescents and youth of the Arab World.
“ The Sense of identity provides the ability to
experience one's self as something that has
continuity and sameness, and to act
accordingly.”
Erick Erickson