The Relationship of Identity Boundaries to Identity Statuses and Styles: An Empirical Examination of the Structural Model of Identity Formation

Abstract

This study examined the relationships among key constructs of the structural model of identity formation. Respondents completed measures assessing identity boundaries, statuses, and styles. The anticipated sequence of mean boundary scores for the identity statuses was observed, with the moratorium and identity diffusion statuses displaying thinner (diffuse) boundaries, followed by identity achievement in the intermediate range, and then identity foreclosure with thicker (rigid) boundaries. The moratorium status had the thinnest boundaries of all the statuses. Regarding identity style, the anticipated sequence of mean boundary scores was also observed, with the diffuse-avoidant style exhibiting thinner boundaries than the informational style, which in turn had thinner boundaries than the normative style. Identity commitment was also associated with thicker boundaries as expected. These findings offer provisional support for the structural model, principally regarding its association with the identity style construct.

Notes

¹Details pertaining to differences among participants drawn from various courses are available from the author on request.