Exploring the Relationship Between Emerging Adulthood Clusters and Identity Statuses: A Person-Centered Approach

Emerging adulthood is a distinct developmental stage situated between adolescence and young adulthood. This life stage is characterized by identity exploration and commitment formation, as individuals seek to answer the question, “ Who am I?”. The present study examined the relationship between identity statuses and emerging adulthood clusters using a person-centered approach. Data were collected using the Dimensions of Identity Development Scale (DIDS) and the Inventory of the Dimensions of Emerging Adulthood (IDEA) from a sample of Latvian emerging adults (N = 408; M = 21.20, SD = 2.83). The study identified seven distinct identity statuses: Diffused Diffusion, Carefree Diffusion, Searching Moratorium, Ruminative Moratorium, Early Closures Foreclosure, Closures Foreclosure, and Achievement. Similarly, seven emerging adulthood clusters were distinguished: Early Stalled Transition, Stalled Transition, Emerging Adult Committers, Early Adults Committers, Transitional Time, Positive Transition, and Adult Committers. The study explores the distribution of respondents across these identity statuses and emerging adulthood clusters.