The Utrecht-Management of Identity Commitments Scale (U-MICS) (original) (raw)

The Utrecht-Management of Identity Commitments Scale (U-MICS): Italian Validation and Cross-National Comparisons

European Journal of Psychological Assessment, 2010

The present study examined the psychometric properties of the Dutch and Italian versions of the Utrecht-Management of Identity Commitments Scale (U-MICS) in large community samples of adolescents from Italy (N = 1,975) and The Netherlands (N = 1,521). Confirmatory factor analyses indicated that the three-factor model, consisting of commitment, in-depth exploration, and reconsideration of commitment, provided a better fit to the data than alternative one-and two-factor models. The three-factor model fit equivalently across sex and across age groups (early and middle adolescents). Furthermore, we demonstrated cross-national equivalence of the factor structure of the U-MICS. Additionally, results indicated that the latent means for commitment were higher in the Dutch sample, while latent means for both in-depth exploration and reconsideration of commitment were substantially higher in the Italian sample. The three identity processes were found to be meaningfully related to measures of self-concept, psychosocial problems, and parent-adolescent relations in both countries. These findings suggest that the U-MICS is a reliable tool for assessing identity processes in Italian and Dutch adolescents.

The Utrecht-Management of Identity Commitments Scale (U-MICS): Measurement invariance and cross-national comparisons of youth from six European countries

European Journal of Psychological Assessment, 2014

The Utrecht-Management of Identity Commitments Scale (U-MICS) is one of the most-commonly used self-report scales to assess personal identity in studies of developmental processes. While it has been translated and validated in many countries around the world, evidence of its applicability in Greek is absent. The purpose of this study was to examine the factor structure of the Greek version of the U-MICS, and to test its measurement invariance across time and across ethnic groups living in Greece. Using data from 811 adolescents (M age = 12.57, SD age = 0.49 at Wave 1, 45.9% girls, 47.1% immigrant), Confirmatory Factor Analyses on the Greek U-MICS supported its well-established three-factor structure. Even though testing invariance of the educational U-MICS showed mixed results, the factor structure and the measurement properties of the interpersonal U-MICS were found to be comparable across ethnic groups, and across three years of junior high school. Finally, the bivariate associations of the three dimensions of the U-MICS with indices of adaptation (self-esteem, and emotional symptoms) partially supported the convergent validity of the scale. This study adds to the existing pool of studies supporting the applicability of the U-MICS in different languages and ethnic groups.

Brief report: The Utrecht-Management of Identity Commitments Scale (U-MICS): Gender and age measurement invariance and convergent validity of the Turkish version

2014

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the factor structure and convergent validity of the Turkish version of the Utrecht-Management of Identity Commitments Scale (U-MICS). Participants were 1201 (59.6% females) youth aged between 12 and 24 years (M age ¼ 17.53 years, SD age ¼ 3.25). Results indicated that the three-factor model consisting of commitment, in-depth exploration, and reconsideration of commitment provided a very good fit to the data and applied equally well to boys and girls as well as to three age groups (early adolescents, middle adolescents, and emerging adults). Significant relations between identity processes and self-concept clarity, personality, internalizing and externalizing problem behaviors, and parental relationships supported convergent validity. Thus, the Turkish version of U-MICS is a reliable tool for assessing identity in Turkish-speaking respondents.

The Functions of Identity Scale: Validation in Italian Late Adolescents and Emerging Adults

2010

The primary purpose of this study was to evaluate the factor structure and convergent validity of an Italian translation of the Functions of Identity Scale (FIS). Participants were 1,201 Italian late adolescents and emerging adults. Confirmatory factor analyses provided support for a five-factor solution, which was found to be consistent across gender and age groups (late adolescents and emerging adults). Convergent validity was demonstrated through theoretically consistent associations between the FIS dimensions and measures of identity commitment and sense of coherence. Overall, findings suggest that the Italian version of the FIS is a promising tool for assessing identity functions, although a revised version with three additional items could be useful to improve scale reliability.

Identity Formation in Adolescence - Change or Stability - Klimstra et al 2010.pdf

The aim of this five-wave longitudinal study of 923 early to middle adolescents (50.7% boys; 49.3% girls) and 390 middle to late adolescents (43.3% boys and 56.7% girls) is to provide a comprehensive view on change and stability in identity formation from ages 12 to 20. Several types of change and stability (i.e., mean-level change, rankorder stability, and profile similarity) were assessed for three dimensions of identity formation (i.e., commitment, in-depth exploration, and reconsideration), using adolescent self-report questionnaires. Results revealed changes in identity dimensions towards maturity, indicated by a decreasing tendency for reconsideration, increasingly more in-depth exploration, and increasingly more stable identity dimension profiles. Mean levels of commitment remained stable, and rank-order stability of commitment, in-depth exploration, and reconsideration did not change with age. Overall, girls were more mature with regard to identity formation in early adolescence, but boys had caught up with them by late adolescence. Taken together, our findings indicate that adolescent identity formation is guided by progressive changes in the way adolescents deal with commitments, rather than by changes in the commitments themselves.

Brief report: The ego identity process questionnaire: Factor structure, reliability, and convergent validity in Dutch-speaking late adolescents

Journal of Adolescence, 2006

The reliability and validity of a Dutch version of the Ego Identity Process Questionnaire (EIPQ) were evaluated. In Study 1, the instrument was found to exhibit a clear factor structure and acceptable reliability. Using Confirmatory Factor Analysis, both a model with two process factors (Commitment, Exploration) and a model with four content factors (Ideological Commitment, Ideological Exploration, Interpersonal Commitment, Interpersonal Exploration) evidenced a good fit once direction of wording was taken into account. In Study 2, moderate convergence was observed between Commitment and Exploration, and continuous measures of identity statuses and identity styles. The results of both studies combined indicated that the Dutch version of the EIPQ may be recommended as a research tool with college students. r

A Cross-National Study of Identity Status in Dutch and Italian Adolescents

European Psychologist, 2012

The purpose of this study was to examine differences in identity formation between large community samples of Italian (N = 1,975) 15 and Dutch (N = 1,521) adolescents. Findings indicated that the distribution across five previously extracted identity statuses (i.e., achievement, 16 early closure, moratorium, searching moratorium, and diffusion) differed strongly across nationality, with Italian participants more represented in 17 the moratorium statuses, and with Dutch adolescents more likely to be in the early closure and diffusion statuses. Furthermore, the profile of the 18 searching moratorium status, in terms of personality characteristics, internalizing symptoms, and parent-adolescent relationships, was found to be 19 more adaptive in the Italian context. These findings are discussed in light of social, economic, and cultural differences between Italy and the 20 Netherlands.

Identity Formation in Adolescence: Change or Stability?

Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 2010

The aim of this five-wave longitudinal study of 923 early to middle adolescents (50.7% boys; 49.3% girls) and 390 middle to late adolescents (43.3% boys and 56.7% girls) is to provide a comprehensive view on change and stability in identity formation from ages 12 to 20. Several types of change and stability (i.e., mean-level change, rankorder stability, and profile similarity) were assessed for three dimensions of identity formation (i.e., commitment, in-depth exploration, and reconsideration), using adolescent self-report questionnaires. Results revealed changes in identity dimensions towards maturity, indicated by a decreasing tendency for reconsideration, increasingly more in-depth exploration, and increasingly more stable identity dimension profiles. Mean levels of commitment remained stable, and rank-order stability of commitment, in-depth exploration, and reconsideration did not change with age. Overall, girls were more mature with regard to identity formation in early adolescence, but boys had caught up with them by late adolescence. Taken together, our findings indicate that adolescent identity formation is guided by progressive changes in the way adolescents deal with commitments, rather than by changes in the commitments themselves.

Brief report: The Identity Style Inventory – Validation in Italian adolescents and college students

Journal of Adolescence, 2009

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the factor structure and convergent validity of an Italian translation of the Identity Style Inventory (ISI). Confirmatory factor analyses revealed a clear three-factor structure of identity style and a mono-factor structure of commitment, not only in the overall sample, but also in gender and age subgroups. Convergent validity was demonstrated by theoretically consistent associations between the ISI dimensions and measures of identity processes, self-esteem, and need for cognitive closure. The findings suggest that the Italian version of the ISI is a useful tool for assessing social-cognitive processes relevant to identity formation in Italian adolescents and college students.