Identity Diffusion:Role of Parenting Style and Decision Making Style among Adolescents

Individuals with a diffused status are reluctant or incapable to make commitments and do not explore vigorously to establish their ego identity. It is the least developmentally mature and adaptive ego status of the four ego identity statuses given by Marcia. Identity development is significantly influenced by psychological and social dynamics experienced during an individual's lifetime, most notably during adolescence. The present study aimed at investigating the role of parenting style and decision making style among diffused adolescents. A sample of 500 adolescents of 11th and 12th class from English medium co-educational schools of Jaipur city was selected through purposive sampling technique for the screening purpose. From among them 110 adolescents identified as diffused were selected for further investigation comprised of 50 boys and 60 girls. A correlation design was used. Participants completed the Revised Version of the Extended Objective Measure of Ego Identity Status (EOMElS-2) by Bennion and Adams (1986); Parental Authority Questionnaire (Buri, 1991); and General Decision Making Style Inventory (Scott&Bruce, 1995). The results of the study revealed that identity diffusion significantly negatively correlates with authoritative parenting style (mother&father) and rational decision style. There exist a significant positive correlation between identity diffusion and authoritarian style (mother & father), mother permissive style, intuitive and avoidant style of decision making. The findings would help the psychologists, counselors, clinical psychologists, etc. for prevention of identity related major disorders and psychopathology from the ground level.