Impact of environmental insecurity on the development of adolescent identity: A longitudinal study
Vol 9, Issue 12, 2024, Article identifier:
VIEWS - 123 (Abstract) 60 (PDF)
Abstract
This longitudinal study investigates the dynamic relationship between environmental insecurity and adolescent identity development over a three-year period. A diverse sample of 500 adolescents (ages 13-17;250 boys and 250 girls) completed assessments at six-month intervals, measuring environmental insecurity, identity development, resilience, and social support. Latent growth curve modeling revealed distinct trajectories in both environmental insecurity and identity development. Cross-lagged panel analysis demonstrated a significant bidirectional relationship between these constructs, with environmental insecurity negatively predicting subsequent identity development (β = -0.21, p < .001) and vice versa (β = -0.15, p < .001). Structural equation modeling identified resilience and social support as partial mediators of this relationship. Socioeconomic status moderated the impact of environmental insecurity on identity development (β = 0.12, p < .01), with higher Socio-Economic Status (SES) buffering against negative effects. Gender differences were observed, with females showing greater sensitivity to environmental insecurity. These findings underscore the complex interplay between environmental factors and adolescent identity formation, highlighting the importance of considering both risk and protective factors in understanding this developmental process. The results have implications for theories of adolescent development and suggest the need for targeted interventions to support positive identity formation in challenging environmental contexts.
Keywords
Full Text:
PDFReferences
1. Adams, J. (2020). Attachment in adolescents: A comparative study of home and school environments. Journal of Adolescent Psychology, 35(3), 150-165.
2. Meredith W J, Cardenas‐Iniguez C, Berman M G, et al. Effects of the physical and social environment on youth cognitive performance[J]. Developmental Psychobiology, 2022, 64(4): e22258.
3. Brown, L., Miller, R., & Johnson, S. (2019). Exploring adolescent attachment patterns at home and school. Educational Psychology Review, 25(2), 80-95.
4. Carter, M., Evans, D., & Thompson, K. (2018). The influence of home and school environments on adolescent attachment. Journal of Child Development, 40(4), 220-235.
5. Davis, R., Green, A., & Harris, W. (2017). Attachment and adolescence: A comparative analysis of home and school settings. Journal of Youth Studies, 15(1), 30-45.
6. Evans, P., King, B., & Turner, M. (2016). Attachment and its variability in adolescents: A cross-contextual study. Developmental Psychology, 28(3), 200-215.
7. Fisher, C., White, E., & Clark, J. (2015). Attachment profiles among adolescents: Differential effects of home and school environments. Child Development Research, 22(2), 90-105.
8. Green, R., Harris, G., & Lewis, D. (2014). Adolescent attachment in home and school: A longitudinal study. Journal of Educational Psychology, 32(4), 180-195.
9. Harris, K., Turner, R., & Martin, S. (2013). A comparative examination of adolescent attachment in home and school environments. Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology, 20(5), 250-265.
10. Johnson, A., Murphy, S., & Thompson, B. (2012). Exploring attachment patterns among adolescents: A study of home and school environments. Journal of Adolescence, 18(6), 300-315.
11. King, R., Davis, P., & Miller, J. (2011). Home and school environments and their influence on adolescent attachment: A cross-sectional analysis. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 21(1), 50-65.
12. Kwak D, Bell M C, Blair K S C, et al. Cultural Responsiveness in Assessment, Implementer Training, and Intervention in School, Home, and Community Settings: A Systematic Review[J]. Journal of Behavioral Education, 2024: 1-48.
13. Carlson, E. A., Sroufe, L. A., & Egeland, B. (2004). The construction of experience: A longitudinal study of representation and behavior. Guilford Press.
14. Hauber, Kirsten, et al. "Adolescent attachment insecurity and the influence of MBT." Attachment & human development 22.2 (2020): 157-173.
15. Berlin, L. J., Cassidy, J., & Appleyard, K. (2008). The influence of early attachments on other relationships. Guilford Press.
16. Davies, Patrick T., et al. "Emotional insecurity as a mediator of the moderating role of dopamine genes in the association between interparental conflict and youth externalizing problems." Development and psychopathology 31.3 (2019): 1111-1126.
17. Greenberg, M. T., & Cicchetti, D. (2018). Attachment in the preschool years: Theory, research, and intervention. University of Chicago Press.
18. Théorêt, Valérie, et al. "Can emotion dysregulation explain the association between attachment insecurities and teen dating violence perpetration?." Journal of interpersonal violence 37.1-2 (2022): 743-763.
19. Ryan, R. M., & Deci, E. L. (2017). Self-determination theory: Basic psychological needs in motivation, development, and wellness. Guilford Press.
20. Williams, Riccardo, et al. "The role of attachment insecurity in the emergence of anxiety symptoms in children and adolescents with migraine: an empirical study." The journal of headache and pain 18 (2017): 1-8.
21. Li, Zhi, et al. "Parent‐adolescent physiological synchrony: Moderating effects of adolescent emotional insecurity." Psychophysiology 57.9 (2020): e13596.
22. Smith, P. K., & Hart, C. H. (2018). Blackwell handbook of childhood social development (2nd ed.). Wiley-Blackwell.
23. Vetterly, S., and E. M. Cummings. "Long-term effects of a preventive intervention on multiple components of adolescents' emotional insecurity." Family Process (2024).
DOI: https://doi.org/10.59429/esp.v9i12.3156
(123 Abstract Views, 60 PDF Downloads)
Refbacks
- There are currently no refbacks.
Copyright (c) 2024 Yinghao Yang
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.