Borito, Justine L.

May 5, 2024

AB Psychology 1-B Developmental Psychology

Article Review on
“Identity in Young Adulthood:
Links with Mental Health and Risky Behavior”

The article “Identity in Young Adulthood: Links with Mental Health and Risky

Behavior” explores the association between identity development in young adults and its impact

on mental health and risky behaviors. Authored by Schwartz et al. (2015), this study investigates

how identity formation during the transition to adulthood influences psychological well-being

and engagement in risky behaviors. The authors designed the study to examine the potential role

of identity in positive and negative psychosocial outcomes among college-attending emerging

adults, utilizing typological profiles extracted from Eriksonian indices of identity development.

Drawing on Erikson's theory of identity development and the identity status model, the

study explores how profiles of identity synthesis and confusion relate to various psychosocial

outcomes. The study hypothesizes that individuals with profiles resembling the achieved status

would exhibit higher levels of well-being and lower levels of internalizing symptoms,

externalizing problems, and health risk behaviors. Through latent profile analysis, the authors

aimed to extract profiles of identity development using measures of synthesis and confusion in

both subjective and behavioral domains.

 The article's strength lies by how the authors conducted a comprehensive review of

existing literature to examine the links between identity development and mental health

outcomes, as well as risky behaviors, among young adults. They synthesized findings from past

studies to provide insights into the complex interplay between identity exploration, commitment,

and psychological adjustment during this developmental stage.

Schwartz et al. (2015) found that a strong sense of identity, characterized by exploration

and commitment to life goals and values, is associated with better mental health outcomes,

including lower levels of depression, anxiety, and stress. Conversely, identity diffusion or

confusion, marked by uncertainty and lack of commitment, is linked to higher levels of

psychological distress. Furthermore, the authors explored the relationship between identity

formation and engagement in risky behaviors among young adults. They observed that

individuals with a clear and stable sense of identity are less likely to engage in risky behaviors

such as substance abuse, unsafe sexual practices, and delinquency. In contrast, those

experiencing identity diffusion or instability may be more prone to engaging in such behaviors as

a way of coping with identity-related challenges.

The results of the study reveal several distinct profiles of identity development, each

associated with different psychosocial outcomes. While profiles resembling the synthesized and

moderate statuses align with Erikson's concept of identity synthesis, the diffused profile deviates,

suggesting potential challenges in identity development.

 While the study offers a thorough examination of identity processes and their correlates,

several limitations need addressing. Firstly, its focus on college-attending emerging adults, which

restricts the generalizability of findings to other populations. Moreover, the cross-sectional

design hinders the establishment of causal relationships between identity development and

psychosocial outcomes, necessitating longitudinal research. The reliance on self-report measures

introduces response biases and measurement errors, potentially affecting result accuracy. The

study overlooks confounding variables like socioeconomic status and family dynamics,

impacting result validity. Lack of detailed participant demographic information raises concerns

about sample representativeness and increases the risk of errors. Lastly, the exclusive emphasis

on Eriksonian concepts oversimplifies identity development, neglecting factors like cultural

identity and sexual orientation, which warrant exploration.

In conclusion, findings of this study contribute to our understanding of identity

development among young adults and its impact on mental health and risky behaviors. By

validating Eriksonian concepts of identity synthesis and confusion, the article highlights the

importance of addressing challenges related to identity. This underscores the need for

interventions aimed at promoting positive psychological functioning and reducing engagement in

risky behaviors among young adults.