The identity development and adjustment of Spanish emerging adult college students: A study across two waves

The aim of this study was to explore identity development across two waves, and its relationship with adjustment, among Spanish emerging adults. The sample consisted of 400 emerging adult undergraduates (67% women, 33% men) aged between 18–29 years (M = 20.31, SD = 2.04 in Wave 1; M = 23.66, SD = 2....

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Domínguez Alarcón, Paula, Parra Jiménez, Águeda, Schwartz, Seth J., Montero-Zamora, Pablo, Sánchez Queija, María Inmaculada
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión aceptada para publicación
Fecha de publicación:2025
País:España
Institución:Universidad de Sevilla (US)
Repositorio:idUS. Depósito de Investigación de la Universidad de Sevilla
OAI Identifier:oai:idus.us.es:11441/172657
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/11441/172657
https://doi.org/10.1177/21676968251319572
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Emerging adulthood
Identity development
Mental health
Well-being
Youth development
Descripción
Sumario:The aim of this study was to explore identity development across two waves, and its relationship with adjustment, among Spanish emerging adults. The sample consisted of 400 emerging adult undergraduates (67% women, 33% men) aged between 18–29 years (M = 20.31, SD = 2.04 in Wave 1; M = 23.66, SD = 2.08 in Wave 2) from two Spanish universities. Results indicated that identification with commitment decreased, and exploration in depth increased, over time. For men, cross-lagged effects showed that exploration in breadth positively predicted exploration in depth, while ruminative exploration negatively predicted commitment making. In women, identification with commitment positively predicted commitment making, and exploration in depth positively predicted exploration in breadth. Significant associations of wave 1 identity dimensions with adjustment variables at wave 2 were observed. Gender differences emerged both in terms of (a) mean levels of identity processes and (b) associations of identity processes with outcome variables.