Abstract:
Psychosocial development theories propose that adolescents’ ability to form a
clear and stable sense of identity; and self- regulated behavior provide the basis
for their effective functioning to deal with the demands of daily life. The present
study was designed based on two theoretical perspectives on the development of
self-integration, namely Self-Determination Theory (SDT; Deci & Ryan, 2000) and
Berzonsky’s (1990) Identity Style Model in determining the psychological well-
being among adolescents. The main objective was to determine the relationship
between identity styles, causality orientations and psychological well-being among
adolescent. The predictive relationship among these constructs was studied across
cultures i.e., Collectivistic (Pakistan), Individualistic (USA, UK, & Belgium). The
study also aimed to test a proposed model of relationships through Structural
Equation Modelling (SEM) across cultures. Further, the role of demographic
variables i.e., gender and age was also probed. For this purpose the Revised
Identity Style Inventory (R-ISI4; Berzonsky, 2007), General Causality Orientation
Scale (GCOS; Deci & Ryan, 1985) and Psychological Well-Being Scale (PWBS;
Ryff, 1992) were used to measure the constructs. The research was carried out in
three phases. Phase-I dealt to establish the psychometric properties of all the three
measures for both types of cultures. Measures were validated through
Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) and Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) for
collectivist and individualist cultures. The findings suggested some modifications
in instruments for Pakistani sample. Internal consistency was also determined
through alpha coefficients and item total correlations for both cultures. Phase-II
aimed to find out the relationship between identity styles, causality orientations,
and psychological well-being across cultures. The instruments finalized in Phase-I
were administered on two independent samples 500 (Pakistan) and 430 (USA, UK
& Belgium) comprised boys and girls of age ranged from 15 -22 years (M= 18,
SD=2.2) from different educational institutions of both cultures. The findings
revealed significant relationship of information identity style with autonomous
orientation, normative identity style with controlled orientation and diffuse-
avoidant identity style with impersonal orientation in both cultures. The multiple
regression analysis suggested significant prediction of causality orientations by
identity styles; and psychological well-being as an outcome product of these styles
and orientations. The t-test analysis showed significant gender differences in such
a way that boys scored higher on information style and commitment in Pakistani
culture whereas girls were higher on information and diffuse-avoidant style and
boys scored higher on commitment in individualist culture. Similarly for causality
orientation boys were high on autonomous and impersonal orientation as
compared to girls who scored higher on controlled orientation in Pakistani culture
whereas in individualist culture boys were higher on autonomous orientation and
girls on controlled. The gender difference for psychological well-being was not
appeared significant for Pakistani sample but for individualist sample girls were
higher on psychological well-being as compared to boys. Significant age
differences were also found for all three variables in both cultures. Additionally,
current study also explored the moderating role of gender and age in the
relationship of identity styles, causality orientation with psychological well-being.
The findings showed significant moderation of gender and age in relationship of
identity styles with psychological well-being; and causality orientation with
psychological well- being in both cultures. Phase- III of the study aimed at testing
the proposed model of predictive relationship between study variables across
cultures. Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) was executed through Analysis of
Moment Structure (AMOS) 18. The significant findings appeared for both cultures
with few differences in predictive paths among variables but the entire major
proposed paths were found significant as information identity style and
autonomous orientation leads to high psychological well-being and diffuse-
avoidant style and impersonal orientation showed low psychological well-being in
both cultures. Further, it was found that causality orientation significantly
mediates the path from identity styles to psychological well-being in both cultures.
Implications of present study are discussed under cross cultural and theoretical
framework for future research directions.