Identity Exploration, Commitment, and Distress: A Cross National Investigation in China, Taiwan, Japan, and the United States

    Authors

    S. L. Berman; Y. F. You; S. Schwartz; G. Teo;K. Mochizuki

    Comments

    Authors: contact us about adding a copy of your work at STARS@ucf.edu

    Abbreviated Journal Title

    Child Youth Care Forum

    Keywords

    Identity; Asian; Cross-national; ETHNIC-IDENTITY; PRELIMINARY VALIDATION; MEASUREMENT INVARIANCE; EMERGING ADULTS; AMERICAN; SELF; ADOLESCENTS; PSYCHOLOGY; CULTURE; YOUTH; Psychology, Developmental

    Abstract

    This study tested cross cultural measurement equivalence of three identity constructs by testing the factor invariance among participants from four nations. Data from measures of identity exploration, commitment, and distress were collected from university students in Mainland China (n = 85), Taiwan (n = 117), Japan (n = 117), and the United States (n = 223) using the Ego Identity Process Questionnaire (EIPQ) and the Identity Distress Scale (IDS). Invariance was not found for the Exploration subscale of the EIPQ, and only partial invariance was found for the Commitment subscale. The Identity Distress Scale did demonstrate invariance across all four samples. Differences varied by degree of Westernization (globalization) of the cultures under study. The results question the cross cultural validity of the EIPQ, particularly the identity exploration subscale. Results are discussed in terms of avenues for improving the cross cultural validity of assessments of identity constructs and implications for interventions that target identity processes to promote positive youth development.

    Journal Title

    Child & Youth Care Forum

    Volume

    40

    Issue/Number

    1

    Publication Date

    1-1-2011

    Document Type

    Article

    Language

    English

    First Page

    65

    Last Page

    75

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:000287243500005

    ISSN

    1053-1890

    Share

    COinS