Identity development research: a systematic review of reviews

Identity development research is rooted in the seminal works of Erik Erikson and James Marcia. Marcia's identity status paradigm, which is characterized by two key dimensions – exploration and commitment – has shaped the field for over 60 years. It has laid the groundwork for subsequent approaches, which can be categorized into three main groups: process-oriented, dual-cycle, and ethnic/cultural identity models. Focusing on these approaches, the present review offers an extensive overview of a vast corpus of quantitative studies (N = 909) on identity development, explicitly operationalized using the dimensions exploration and commitment. Tracing the historical trajectory of identity development research published between 1966 and 2022, it provides insights into the methodologies, content, and structural landscape of the field. Further, it examines the relationship between identity development and psychosocial functioning, as portrayed in the literature. The findings reveal methodological gaps, thematic focuses, and existing evidence for the relationship between identity development and psychosocial functioning.