title: The continued assessment of self-continuity and identity.
abstract: Studies have found that self-continuity is predictive of a substantial number of important outcome variables. However, a recent series of studies brings into question the traditional method of measuring self-continuity in favor of an alternative (B. M. Baird, K. Le, & R. E. Lucas, 2006). The present study represents a further comparison of measurement methods examining the outcome variables of identity, negative affect, and self-esteem while also exploring the possible moderating roles of culture and relational-interdependent self-construal. The results suggest that the methods yield distinctive results with the new method being associated with negative affect, but not with self-esteem or identity. This finding is especially important for the research in the area of identity because self-continuity is seen as being an essential element of identity and the results suggest that traditional identity concepts and measures are not inclusive of this vital component.
authors.affiliation: Western Illinois University, Department of Psychology, 100 Waggonner Hall, Macomb, IL 61455, USA. c-dunkel@wiu.edu
authors.forename: Curtis S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Dunkel
authors.forename: Leslie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Minor
authors.forename: Maureen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Babineau
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011594:Psychometrics; D012649:Self Concept; D012846:Singapore; D012933:Social Identification; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult