title: Identity processing styles and the need for self-esteem in middle-aged and older adults.
abstract: This study was a test of the relationship between self-esteem and the identity processing styles of identity assimilation (i.e., maintaining consistent views of the self), accommodation (i.e., changing the self ), and a balance between consistency seeking and identity change. A community sample of 242 older adults ranging in age from forty to ninety-five (M = 63.31) completed measures of identity processing and self-esteem. Previous research has demonstrated that identity assimilation increases with age in order to maintain self-esteem in the domain of physical and cognitive functioning; this is referred to as the identity assimilation effect (IAE). Based on this research, a similar result was expected in the domain of personality. Although identity assimilation and balance predicted increases in self-esteem, and identity accommodation predicted decreases in self-esteem, as predicted, no interaction effects were observed. The results of this study suggest the IAE may be domain specific to physical and cognitive functioning.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Massachusetts at Amherst, 01003, USA. jsneed@psych.umass.edu
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Sneed
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Whitbourne
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged / Q000523:psychology*; D000369:Aged, 80 and over / Q000523:psychology; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged / Q000523:psychology*; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012649:Self Concept; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States