Ego identity status in cross-cultural context: A replication study

The purpose was to replicate research by Jensen, Kristiansen, Sandbekk, and Kroger. In that 1998 study, patterns of identity development were examined for late adolescents raised in the mixed liberal welfare-stare economic system of Norway compared with late adolescents raised in the free-market economic system of the United Stares. In the present study, scores for ego identity status were examined for a further sample of 58 (38 women, 20 men) Norwegian and 1,498 (814 women, 684 men) American undergraduate students using the Extended Objective Measure of Ego Identity Status-2. Present results mere consistent with those of Jensen, ct ai., which found Norwegian students to score consistently lower on extent of exploration and of commitment than American students. This study provides further evidence that in late adolescence, Norwegian students may undergo greater moderation in identity exploration and commitment processes than their United States peers. Findings are discussed in the light of social, political, and economic differences between the two nations.