title: The status model of racial identity development in African American adolescents: evidence of structure, trajectories, and well-being.
abstract: Although the identity formation model is widely used to assess adolescent ethnic identity development, the model propositions have rarely been tested. The existence of the identity statuses (diffuse, foreclosed, moratorium, achieved), the proposed developmental trajectories, and whether youth in the achieved status report higher levels of psychological well-being were examined among a longitudinal sample of 224 African American adolescents, aged 11-17. Cluster analyses were used to create 4 identity statuses consistent with the theoretical model at both time points. The findings indicate that some adolescents progressed, while others regressed or remained constant across time periods. Lastly, the results generally support the assumption that individuals in the achieved status had the highest levels of psychological well-being at both time periods.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48106, USA. eseaton@isr.umich.edu
authors.forename: Eleanor K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Seaton
authors.forename: Krista Maywalt
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Scottham
authors.forename: Robert M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Sellers
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D001741:Black or African American; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D044469:Racial Groups; D012933:Social Identification; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires