“I've Devoted My Entire Life to My Daughter—and She Knows It”: Exploration of Identity Development Among Now-Adult Navajo Native American Adolescent Mothers

Abstract

In 1992 (n = 21) and 1995 (n = 8), the principal investigator collected data from 29 reservation-residing Navajo Native American teenage mothers. A primary goal of the 1992 and 1995 investigations (Time 1) was to examine the identity status of the young women in relation to commitment to the maternal role using Marcia's (1980) framework. Results revealed that an approximately equal number of participants could be classified as achieved, moratorium, foreclosed, and diffused (see Dalla, 2000). In 2007 (Time 2), the principal investigator returned to collect follow-up data at the Navajo Reservation, where she interviewed 21 (72%) of the original 29 women. Using a qualitative research strategy, the primary goal of this investigation was to examine developmental trajectories of participants’ identity status in relation to four significant life domains (i.e., maternity, intimate relationships, work/occupation, and culture). The frequencies of the identity achievement status were higher at Time 2 than at Time 1, and this identity status was also more stable than the other statuses. Findings supported the expectation that presence in the identity achievement status would be positively associated with well-being, whereas the identity diffusion status has a negative association with such functioning. The authors discuss suggestions for continued research and application of findings.

Notes

^a Reflects only those participants located and interviewed at Time 1 and Time 2.

^b Participants could select multiple sources of income.

Note. A = achieved; D = diffused; F = foreclosed; M = moratorium.

*Refers to how often each identity status was assigned in the four domains covered in the interview, not to the total number of participants assigned each identity status.

⁺ p < .08. *p < .05. **p < .01.