10.1177/0743558403255066 ARTICLE JOURNAL OF ADOLESCENT RESEARCH / XXX XXX Kumru & Thompson / IDENTITY AND SELF-MONITORING
EGO IDENTITY STATUS AND
SELF-MONITORING BEHAVIOR
IN ADOLESCENTS
Asiye Kumru
Ross A. Thompson
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
This research examined the association between identity status and self-monitoring
behavior including age and gender differences in these variables in 476 adolescents (15
to 22 years old) in Turkey—a non-Western society characterized by traditional and mod-
ernist culture elements. Identity was assessed with the Extended Version of the Objective
Measure of Ego Identity Status, and self-monitoring was measured by the Self-Moni-
toring Scale. Identity and self-monitoring were significantly associated for ideological
identity with identity-achieved students lowest and diffusion students highest in self-
monitoring. There were no associations for interpersonal or general identity status.
Consistent with research in North America, there were significant increases in identity
achievement and moratorium with age and no gender differences in identity status.
Males were significantly higher than females in self-monitoring, but there were no age
differences. These findings are discussed in relation to the influences on identity forma-
tion in Turkey.
Keywords: ego identity; self-monitoring; adolescence; gender differences
A productive body of research on adolescent identity development has
emerged during the past several decades stimulated by Marcia’s (1966)
operationalization of Erikson’s (1968) portrayal of identity formation.
Whereas Erikson described two outcomes of identity formation (identity
achieved vs. diffused), Marcia delineated four identity statuses that are
defined by the self-reported experiences of crisis and commitment. Identity-
achieved adolescents have made a personal commitment to an identity fol-
lowing a period of crisis or exploration. The moratorium status is character-
1
Address correspondance to Asiye Kumru, Department of Psychology, Abant Izzet Baysal University, Golkoy/
Bolu 14280, Turkey; e-mail: akumru@ibu.edu.tr.
Journal of Adolescent Research, Vol. 1x No. x, Month 2003 1-16
DOI: 10.1177/0743558403255066
© 2003 Sage Publications