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An extension of Marcia's Identity Status Interview into the interpersonal domain

Journal of Youth and Adolescence volume 11, pages 33–47 (1982)Cite this article

Abstract

This article describes an extension of Marcia's (1966) Identity Status Interview into three interpersonal domains: friendships, dating, and sex roles. The Identity Status Interview method is assessed favorably in terms of identity theory, justification for the three new sections is provided on the basis of theory and research on sex differences in adolescent identity, and methodological refinements in the interview are described. A study is reported in which the extended interview was administered to 41 male and 40 female high school juniors and seniors. Average percentage of exact agreement for ratings of exploration, commitment, and identity status was over 70% when two coders were used and over 94% when the ratings of two out of three coders were used. It is concluded that this extended interview is psychometrically sound and provides a method for assessing interpersonal issues salient to contemporary adolescents.

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Author information

Affiliations

  1. Department of Home Economics, Division of Child Development and Family Relationships, University of Texas at Austin, USA

    Harold D. Grotevant

  2. Department of Educational Psychology, University of Texas at Austin, USA

    William Thorbecke

Authors
  1. Harold D. Grotevant
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  2. William Thorbecke
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  3. Margaret L. Meyer
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Additional information

This work was supported in part by a grant from the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs, University of Texas at Austin.

Received his Ph.D. in child psychology from the University of Minnesota. Main Interest is the influence of the family on adolescent personality development, especially identity and vocational interests.

Doctoral candidate in counseling psychology, with special interst in sex roles and adult development.

Received Ph.D. in community psychology from the University of Texas at Austin. Main interests include adult development, communities, and spiritual growth.

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Grotevant, H.D., Thorbecke, W. & Meyer, M.L. An extension of Marcia's Identity Status Interview into the interpersonal domain. J Youth Adolescence 11, 33–47 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01537815

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01537815

Keywords

  • High School
  • Health Psychology
  • Identity Status
  • Average Percentage
  • High School Junior